A NEWSAGENT who died after his vehicle overturned and landed in a ditch became a father for the first time just 10 days ago.

Junaid Lorgat, 20, who had also just celebrated his first wedding anniversary on August 5, died when the vehicle he was driving went out of control in the Grane Road, Haslingden, early yesterday.

His family have paid tribute to the doting dad who was very popular and ran the family's newsagents business in Jubilee Road, Haslingden.

Mr Lorgat's mother, Johra Lorgat and his brother Jabbir, 14, were injured in the crash.

And Mr Lorgat's 14-year-old cousin Mohammed Nadat, who was visiting the family on holiday from Paris also suffered "significant" injuries.

Mr Lorgat, of Burnley Road, Blackburn, was pronounced dead at the scene where the Hyundai Trajet multi-purpose vehicle left the road.

He was married to Shahenaz, 21, and their son, Issa Junaid was born ten days before his father's death.

Ismail Hafejee, an equipment manager for East Lancashire NHS Hospital Trust in Blackburn and Mr Lorgat's uncle said: "He was very popular and was running the family business.

"He liked to play football, cricket and snooker with his friends.

"He became a dad 10 days ago and all he wanted to do was spend time with his son.

"He was going to work and the next thing we knew we got a phone call saying there had been an accident.

"His wife is absolutely devastated. They were planning to go on holiday in a couple of weeks to Devon.

"He will be sorely missed by everyone."

Mr Lorgat took over the family business about two years ago from his dad Bashir Lorgat.

The accident, which happened just before 6am, is the latest in a string of crashes on the Grane Road between Blackburn and Haslingden in recent weeks, On July 27 a car crashed and overturned near the Duke of Wellington pub.

In the same month 12 people were hospitalised when a single-decker bus collided with a car.

Mrs Lorgat, who suffered a broken wrist and cuts and bruises and her son, who sustained minor injuries, were taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Mr Lorgat's cousin was airlifted by police helicopter to the Royal Preston Hospital. He was said to be in a stable condition.

Police are still investigating the crash, which closed the Grane Road for several hours.

Sergeant Martin Bishop of the road policing unit at Colne said: "We have spoken to some witnesses and are going to speak to more.

"We are considering a number of factors but at the minute we are keeping an open mind."

Suleman Khonat, national executive of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and a family friend said: "It is very shocking what has happened and the family are trying to come to terms with it.

"Their thoughts are with Junaid and also with Mohammed who was visiting from Paris.

"The family are hoping that he recovers."