Mr David James Redman (29) died after falling asleep at the wheel of his car as he drove home from work earlier this month.

His mum, Judith, described him as a person who loved life and had been "living the dream".

"They were building a new life together and were so happy," said Mrs Redman, of Bendwood Court, Padiham. "It's such a real tragedy because all he wanted to do was get home and see his partner and two beautiful boys."

>> You can leave your own tribute to David and words of sympathy to his family at the bottom of this story

David, who lived in Hameldon Close, Hapton, for most of his life moved to Australia with his fiancee Angela, who he had been with for 11 years, and their sons Jacob (6) and Finnian (3) in 2006.

The former Ivy Bank High School pupil had worked as a service advisor at Vauxhall Vantage, Colne, and got a job at an open cast mine servicing trucks.

"He had been working so hard," said Mrs Redman. "He had done eight straight days and had just finished a 12-hour nightshift when he set off home. He should have stayed over there for the night but wanted to see his family so much. He was a real family man and they meant the absolute world to him. His car got a puncture about halfway into the journey so he had to change the tyre which must have made him even more tired. He then must have just fallen asleep at the wheel and his car hit a tree.

"They didn't find him for 24 hours but the car was eventually found by a police helicopter after a huge search had taken place."

Judith and her husband, Peter, with David's sister, Claire, and Angela's parents, flew to Australia the day after his death and a moving celebration of his life was held on a beach.