THE brothers of a man who died on his birthday in a road smash has paid tribute to the ‘backbone’ of their family.

Aftab Azram was killed on his 43rd birthday when his BMW was in collision with a Ford Mondeo estate in Grane Road, Haslingden.

Yesterday, as his heartbroken family struggled to come to terms with his death, Mr Azram’s brothers, Zulfiqar, 40, and 31-year-old Shiraz, paid tribute.

Zulfiqar said: “Aftab was unique and one of a kind.

“He was the head of the family, the eldest of six. He was our backbone.

“He was phenomenal and we will all miss him so much.”

Shiraz said: “He will be dearly missed.

“He was the one we all looked up to. He was the pillar of the family.”

Mr Azram, who lived in Rochdale, is survived by his wife, Rifhat, and sisters Sameena, 42, and Asma, 28, and other brother Sajjad, 38.

He was born in London in 1968 but his parents moved to Accrington a year later.

A former student of Hollins High School, he worked as an IT technician at Express Gifts in Clayton-le-Moors.

Mr Azram spent his birthday, last Friday, with family at his parents’ house in Kingston Avenue, Accrington, before nipping to Blackburn for a prescription.

He chose to return to Rochdale via the Grane Road but his BMW collided with a Ford Mondeo at about 10.30pm.

He died after being cut out of his vehicle by firefighters.

Mr Azram’s funeral is expected to be held tomorrow in Accrington.

Three people in the Mondeo were taken to hospital but did not receive life-threatening injuries.

Yesterday, police renewed an appeal for witnesses to the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845 125 3545.