TRIBUTES have been paid to a local businessman who died in a motorcycle accident abroad.

Dave Gilson, 57, who owned three service stations in Lancashire, died in Italy at 12.30pm last Friday, and in a tragic twist, one of his businesses was burnt down and another robbed within 24 hours of his death.

Mr Gilson's wife of 39 years, Pauline, was too distraught to speak, but his sister-in-law, Vivian Fraser, said: "It's unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

"He was such a charismatic man. You would meet him and never forget him. He was always helpful and nothing was too much trouble. He was larger than life.

"He always went at everything with enthusiasm."

And his niece, Kim, said: "He was a bit of an individual and was always up to something! Everybody knows him."

Mr Gilson, of The Old Rectory, Brindle, was in Italy making plans to set up a wine and olive production company when the accident happened at around 12.30pm. After being airlifted to nearby Ancona he died in hospital two hours later.

His service stations were in Ulnes Walton, Croston and Garswood.

They all sold a huge range of specialist wines, and were run by his three sons, Mark, Michael and Paul.Police do not believe the fire in Oak Dene, Ulnes Walton, was started deliberately.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service investigators believe it was the result of a discarded cigarette in a bin.

A Foreign Office spokesman said they were aware of the accident.