A FAMILY today paid an emotional tribute to a bike fanatic killed just weeks before he was due to be best man at his sister's wedding.

Stephen Fairley, 39, "always had a smile and a joke" and will be remembered as a man who didn't have an enemy in the world.

Stephen, of Royds Street, Accrington, was killed when his Suzuki motorbike collided with a Peugeot 206 and Ford Focus in Accrington Road, Hapton shortly before 9am yesterday.

He was on his way to work at the Poundland shop in Charter Walk, Burnley, when the accident happened.

His close-knit family were today coming terms with the loss of a man described as a "soul-mate" to wife Anne-Marie.

He was well-known through seven years work as a motorbike mechanic at Clarke's motorbike dealers of Whalley Road, Accrington.

Stephen leaves a father Allen Fairley, step-mother Olwyn and was due to be best man at his sister Susan's wedding in the next couple of months after becoming good friends with her husband-to-be.

His brother-in-law David Lamble, 40, said: "If he had a choice in life that's the way he would have wanted to go, on a bike."

Stephen had been married to Anne-Marie, 37, who works for Hyndburn Borough Council for 17 years. They had no children.

David, of Exchange Street, Accrington, said Anne-Marie and Stephen would love to bike together with himself, friends and family around Kirkby Lonsdale, Hawes and Settle.

David said: "He wasn't just Anne-Marie's husband, he was her best friend. They were soulmates. They did everything together."

Stephen had been working as a security guard at Poundland for four months after being forced to give up the work he loved at Clarke's because of problems with his knees.

Stephen, who was originally from Bury, had his GSXR 1100 Suzuki bike for 17 years and maintained it meticulously, David said.

A motorbiker's funeral, yet to be arranged, will be held for David with his biking friends and family wearing black leather jackets at the service.

It is the second tragedy to happen to Anne-Marie. Her sister Joanne died at the age of 26 from an epileptic seizure.

Donations are to be sent to the ACU Benevolent Fund, Wood Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2YX.

Police said Stephen appeared to lose control of his bike after the Peugeot pulled out of a driveway onto the same side of the road. They named the driver of the Peugeot as Jane Barker, 35, of Hapton who was driving with her son Scott, 10, at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Ford Focus has been named as Ronald Coutman, 72, of Chatburn Avenue, Burnley. Both drivers were treated for shock and minor injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, or to anyone who saw the motorbike earlier.