A BURNLEY businessman affectionately known as the 'Burger King' has died.

David Hankinson, 40, owned Kenank's burger takeaway on Barracks Road, Burnley, and pumped more than £100,000 into making his venture a success.

In a social media post, a business partner of the late Mr Hankinson released an emotional statement: "We tragically lost our Burger King yesterday.

"David lived and breathed Kenank's. It was his baby. This is a business that we set up in honour of his dad. I made a promise to him, that if anything ever happened to him, I would make sure it continued to flourish.

"I am going to work so hard and make him so proud. We are obviously all very shocked and to be honest, it doesn’t feel real. But Kenank's lives on in David's name."

Tributes came thick and fast in the comments underneath the post, with many sharing their fond memories of Mr Hankinson.

Emma Hall wrote: "Just like his Dad, he was a top guy. I went to Ivy Bank at the same time as 'Hanky', but I'm a few years younger. I've always remembered him as the school joker, with his blonde curtained hair and Helly Hanson jacket.

"He never failed to make people smile and achieved what he wanted. Such a big loss to the Rosegrove and Burnley community."

Janine Hall paid tribute to her boss: "Absolutely gutted. Such a funny man and he was more of a friend than a boss. Still finding it hard to think we will never see you and that big grin of yours again. We are all going to miss you David, but I'm sure I speak for most of the staff when I say we are all thinking of your family now and if they ever need anything we are all here for them. RIP, hun."

Melanie Holt echoed Ms Hall's sentiments: "An amazing man, friend and boss to so many people over the years.

"He has an amazing team that will continue his dream with a united front. Rest in peace our chief, our leader and, most importantly, our friend."

Mr Hankinson named the restaurant after his late father, Ken, who died during a family holiday to Egypt for his 65th birthday in January 2011.

The former sales manager said at the time: "I've poured literally every penny I own – bar the roof over my head – into this business. It's been a pretty big job.

"There were logistical problems with the takeaway because it had grown so popular. We couldn’t keep up with demand and struggled with the freshness and quality of the food in a restricted space – that’s why we needed to expand.

"Every tradesman or contractor I've used for the restaurant has come from Burnley, and most of them were from Rosegrove where I'm from. This restaurant is everything I have and I want to make a success of it."