Family and friends of the 18-year-old who died in a crash on the M4 in the early hours of Tuesday have paid tribute to the aspiring professional boxer.

Mohammed Hashim from Cardiff sadly died after his BMW car collided with a central reservation barrier as he was travelling between junction 14 and 15 in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

He was aspiring to be a professional boxer.

His family in a statement: "Mohammed was an inspirational individual with good morals and ethics. He was a giver, a doer and never liked receiving. He was the most generous and thoughtful person anyone could meet.

"Mohammed’s views in life was 'be kind to everyone, even the unkind ones because paying bad with bad does not equal to good.' He had the most electrifying smile in the world, he could light up any room he entered.

"At 16, he had already accomplished a lot in his life - he became a national champion in his field of boxing and made both his family and nation proud. At one point in his career Mohammed was ranked second in the world for his age and was known for fighting in a similar style to the legend and his namesake Mohammed Ali.

"Mohammed was an outstanding young individual with great prospects and was always full of energy. It’s sad to see his life cut so short. He will be sadly missed and rest assured forever in our hearts."

Head boxing coach Carl Stephens of Llanedeyrn ABC gym in Cardiff taught Mohammed from the age of 10.

He said: "Mo was our number one boxer who represented us 36 times and winning 31 of those matches. He represented Wales and also won the Welsh Schoolboy and Welsh National Association of Boys and Girls' Clubs, as well as the British Championship.

"He had recently been training with accomplished professionals such as Andrew Selby and Jay Harris, who had recently boxed for world titles.

"Mo was just a young man compared to these seasoned boxers but they could not believe the ability he had with his limited experience. There were a lot of well placed people on the boxing circuit who thought Little Mo could have gone right to the top.

"Mo was like second son to me. He was a likeable, bubbly, smiling young man who everyone loved. It is a tragedy for his family, friends and all the boxing world that such a talent has been lost at such a young age.

"The boys at the gym will carry on in your memory and do their best to box in your shadow. Little Mo - simply the best."