A YOUNG father and motoring enthusiast died after he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree.

Tributes have been paid to to the man in his 20s named locally as car mechanic Corey Hudson.

Floral tributes have also been left at the scene of the smash.

It is not known what caused the crash. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Officers said the car crashed into a tree in Slade Lane, close to the junction with Adamson Street, in Padiham, at around 9.40pm on Friday.

The vehicle was travelling from the direction of Church Street when it left the road.

It is understood Mr Hudson had a son, who was only a couple of months old , and worked at the nearby JPN Auto Parts in Marlborough Street, Burnley.

On his Facebook page, he had posted pictures of his 'pride and joy' Seat Leon car.

Friends said today that he always had a smile on his face and that no one had a bad word to say about him.

One friend, who worked at Auto Electric next door to Mr Hudson's work said: "He was a genuinely nice lad. He never had a bad word to say about anyone.

"I always used to go next door to his works for parts for the garage."

Another friend said: "I've known him since he was 12 years old but only known him to speak to for the last two years.

"His name was Corey Hudson, only in his 20s and he worked at a place called JPN Motors as a mechanic.

"He was a qualified mechanic and would always help out fixing my car and the brakes.

"He was a good lad and good friend and will be sorely missed."

Another person said: "He lived locally not far from the crash and had a girlfriend.

"They'd only recently had a baby son who was a few months old.

"Both of them had be doing a house up in Garden Street not far from here.

"Corey was really well known and popular in the area and will be sadly missed by a lot of people."

People could also be seen stopping in cars to lay floral tributes at the scene.

One read: "Rest in peace mate. Gone too soon. Baron xx

Another read: "Rip Crum mate. You will never be forgotten. Sending our love. Lennon and Kane <3"

Two other men travelling in the car were also injured, while Mr Hudson had last night been in a critical condition.

A 27-year-old man suffered neck, head and shoulder injuries and is in a serious condition.

A second passenger, aged 30, suffered injuries to his pelvis and ribs.

All three men were taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment.

The road was closed for more than four hours while accident investigators attended the scene.

Two fire engines from Padiham and Burnley also attended the collision which saw two of the men trapped inside the car.

Crews used hydraulic equipment to rescue the driver and a passenger in the rear seat, before they were taken to hospital by ambulance.

A fire service spokesman said: "The ambulance service took a 999 call reporting a collision on Slade Lane, Padiham at 9.54pm, which saw a car hit a tree, and was on its side, and two men were trapped inside.

"Two fire engines from Padiham and Burnley responded.

"Firefighters used hydraulic equipment to rescue the driver and a passenger in the rear seat and both casualties were taken to hospital by ambulance. "

Temp Sgt Lee Harris, of Lancashire police's roads policing unit, said: "We are appealing for information following a serious road traffic collision in Padiham.

"We want to establish exactly what happened.

"If you saw the vehicle before the collision, or witnessed the incident, please contact us."

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log reference 1470 of September 29.