A FATHER-of-four, who was known as the grocer who always had time for everyone, has lost his fight for life.

Grocer Afiz Ali was in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at Royal Preston Hospital for a week after suffering serious head injuries in a road accident when his car left the M65 motorway and plunged down an embankment, landing in a field.

On Saturday the family agreed to let doctor's turn his life support machine off and he died less than 30 minutes later.

Mr Ali, 34, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, owned M and M grocer's shop in Colne Road, Brierfield.

His sister Rina said: "His wife went on Saturday to the hospital at 9am and that is when they let us know he could not breathe by himself and there was nothing else they could do.

"He was very special to us. He never said any wrong words or words which would dishearten anyone.

"Quite a few hundred people turned up at the hospital to see him and last night we had a telephone call from a friend in Denmark asking after him.

"He was very special to his family and his friends and he was very loved by his children."

Mr Ali worked seven-days a week at his business M & Ms -- Madina Mini Market.

Newsagents David and Joan Heap, of Colne Road, have known Mr Ali for 14 of the 16 years they have run the business. Mrs Heap said: "He used to work at the take-away next door and he was a lovely person. He was always very kind and always friendly and always had time for you.

"He had the grocer's shop for quite a few years and one old lady came into my shop last week and was in tears about the accident and said he was a lovely young man.

"It is quite a nice community here and we have been a mixed community for a long time and everybody gets on very well. He will be sadly missed by the whole community."

Butcher David Madeley, of I Townson and Son, said: "I didn't know him personally but my customers have spoken very highly of him and they all said he was a very friendly and hard-working man. He will be sadly missed I think."

Mr Ali had been travelling in the outside lane of the motorway heading towards Nelson last Sunday afternoon when the accident happened.

His Nissan Sunny left the carriageway and rolled down the embankment into the field. Firefighters had to cut the roof off his car so paramedics could treat him before he was lifted out of the vehicle and into an ambulance.

He leaves his wife, four children aged between six and 18 months, brothers and sisters.

Once the post mortem examination has been carried out, the family is hoping to be able to hold Mr Ali's funeral tomorrow at the Union Mosque in Haslingden before interment in the town's cemetery on Grane Road.

A passenger in Mr Ali's car, Shane Barker, 17, of Claremont Street, Brierfield, escaped with cuts and bruises and was allowed home from Burnley General Hospital after treatment.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident and East Lancashire coroner David Smith has been informed of Mr Ali's death and an inquest will be held.

The family do not know what is going to happen to his business at this stage.