THE family of a Darwen dad who died after falling 80ft into a disused quarry have paid tribute to him.

Ian Thomson, 25, had been camping with his girlfriend and her family when he got separated from the group in the early hours.

He was found at the bottom of Brownfield Quarry, off Blackburn Road, near Turton.

Speaking after an inquest, his father, Bob, 48, said: “He was just an ordinary lad, but he had the biggest heart of anybody I have known in my life. He was happy and outgoing. He put his heart and soul into everything he did.

“Judging by the amount of people at his funeral, he will be remembered by many. There were over 150 people there.”

His mum Pam, 49, added: “We are proud to have him as a son. He was there for everybody and anybody.”

Born in 1988, Mr Thomson moved to Ash Grove, Darwen, from Blackpool with his family when he was five. It remains the family home.

Schooled at Holy Trinity and Darwen Moorland High, his hobbies included basketball, computers, and playing the electric guitar.

Raised with a strong work ethic, he started a paper round when he was 14, and soon had three or four different rounds.

As he grew older, he stepped into his dad’s shoes, working as a metal polisher for almost nine years.

He had two children, five-year-old Sophie, and two-year-old Billy Bob.

Mr Thomson said: “He lived his life for his children and he was very protective of all his family. When he wasn’t with his kids, he’d have a drink and have a go on the kar-aoke.”

Mr Thomson also leaves brothers Simon, 27, and Peter, 18, and two sisters, Sinead, 19, and Iona, 16, and step-brother Michael, 28.

At Mr Thomson’s inquest last week, coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death, caused by multiple injuries, on July 7.