THE family of hit and run smash victim John Fallows today slammed the man who took his life - and then tried to cover up his tracks by lying to police.

And Mr Fallows' daughter slammed Zahid Shafi's "lack of remorse and arrogant attitude" which she said had added to her family's agony.

Valerie Ainsworth said: "If his whole attitude had changed I would have felt sorry for him. He thinks he is above that."

Mrs Ainsworth, of Heald Wood Drive, Burnley, said the family had not been able to hold a funeral until two months after her father's death because of police inquiries and added: "Everything has been really really long and drawn out."

The victim's sister Vera Doyle told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph she thought the sentence could have been longer.

She said she was "very, very close" to her brother and added: "There wasn't a nicer lad around."

The police inquiries were led by Detective Inspector Steve Chard.

During the hearing at Burnley Crown Court, Richard Haworth, prosecuting, read to the court from a statement from Mrs Ainsworth, outlining the trauma she suffered that night on being told of the death of her father.

It spoke of Mr Fallows being a very popular father, grandfather and friend and of how he was a family man "in every sense of the word".

Zahid Shafi, 39, of Colne Road, Burnley, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice, last November 27.

Sentencing Shafi to four years in jail Judge Raymond Bennett said nothing he could do could bring Mr Fallows back.

He added: " His family will never think that whatever sentence is imposed upon you is the right one and I understand that."

Earlier Richard Haworth, prosecuting, had told the court divorced former lagger Mr Fallows, of Cardinal Street, Burnley, had been to the Paradise Club in the town and had had about five pints.

He left just before 11.30pm and crossed Colne Road on or near a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Fallows was hit by Shafi's BMW, doing 40mph on the 30mph road, was thrown into the air and landed on the ground.

Mr Haworth said Shafi, who had been concentrating on finding a takeaway rather than on the road ahead, sped off with a smashed windscreen after knocking down 71-year-old grandfather of three.

He left him dying in the road and then tried to cover his tracks by having his BMW repaired and pretending he had hit a tree.

Shafi later told police he did not realise he had knocked somebody over and finally admitted his guilt by claiming he had had a momentary lapse of concentration because the lights of the Kentucky Fried Chicken appeared to be switched off.