A POPULAR family doctor who became a respected member of his adopted community has died, aged 72.

Tribute has been paid to Dr Shabir Chishti, who was born in Jullundar, India, but made Darwen his home.

He did his medical training at St Edward's Medical College in Lahore.

After graduating he emigrated to Manchester where he worked in hospitals in Salford, Bootle and Bolton.

He moved to Darwen in November 1960 and joined a GP practice at Belgrave until Darwen Health Centre opened in 1974.

He retired in 1995 but continued to be a GP locum.

Dr Chishti, lived with his wife, Ricky, in the Bold Venture area of Darwen, helped set up the Darwen Mosque and became one of its trustees.

He also leaves daughters Roxane, Kim and Farhana, son Ahmad, and grandchildren Adam and Anna,

Roxane said: "He was dedicated to his work, it was his life. He was also very much a family man."

"Religion was very important to him and he taught himself Arabic after he retired.

"He always thought of Pakistan as his home and he returned almost every year."

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