A GRANDFATHER with a ‘wonderful sense of humour’ lost his life in a collision with a lorry on a busy East Lancashire road.

David Kidson, 68, was driving a Volvo XC60 which was involved in the incident on the A59 Longsight Road, near Copster Green.

It happened when Mr Kidson, from Whalley, was travelling north east from Clayton-le-Dale towards the village shortly before 4.30pm on Friday.

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His wife Angela and family paid tribute to a dearly missed husband, father, grandfather and brother.

They said: “David led a full and active life. He was never one to sit still for too long. He always liked to keep himself busy.

“He especially enjoyed helping out at the family business which he had established for over 40 years.

“He loved playing with new technology and gadgets. His bright character and youthful outlook made it seem that he was never getting any older. That makes it even more tragic to have him taken away from us in such terrible circumstances. We keep expecting him to walk into the house and again brighten all our lives.”

Mr Kidson had been involved in the Whalley Conservative Association for a number of years, and Cllr Terry Hill was a close friend.

He said: “He was a lovely man with a wonderful sense of humour. He was always very cheerful.

“I last spoke to him two or three weeks ago and we had a good laugh as we always did.This has come as a huge shock. He has been involved with the Conservative Association for as long as I can remember and he was a great help to me over the years.

“He was a real family man who went out of his way to help others.”

Cllr Hill said Mr Kidson was a professional photographer but his family business was in Ribchester, setting up exhibitions for organisations.

He added: “He was on his way home from work when the accident happened. Apparently he had a heart attack while he was driving.

“The family had recently moved house and he had eased up on the business. His son is involved and David was taking a lesser role, although he still kept his hand in regularly.

“He hadn’t been at an election count last week. With moving house he had taken a back seat in terms of local politics over the last 12 months or so.”

Cllr Joyce Holgate, who also represents Whalley, issued a statement alongside Cllr Hill saying: “We are, of course, deeply shocked and saddened and send Angela and her family our deepest sympathy.”

The road was closed for five hours for accident investigation, officers said. The driver of the Volvo articulated lorry, which police said was heading in the opposite direction, was shocked but unhurt.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.