A 21-year-old Darwen man was killed when the scooter he was riding collided with a milk delivery van.

Anthony Wastell was pronounced dead at Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the accident in Marsh House Lane, Darwen, at about 6pm yesterday evening.

He was travelling towards the town on a Piaggio Vespa scooter when the accident happened opposite the junction with Lisbon Drive, police said.

No-one else was injured.

His family today described him as a football loving fitness enthusiast who loved to wind people up.

Marsh House Lane resident Damon Whittaker, who lives outside where the accident happened, said he was on the phone at the time of the collision.

He said: "I put the phone down and ran out and saw the bloke and the bike further down the road. I ran back inside to get a quilt to keep him warm. There was already three or four people there and they had called an ambulance. We did the best we could and tried to organise the traffic.

"It's a shock, I know of two accidents down here but this is the worst one I have seen. It is awful."

Mr Wastell had lived in the Marsh House area of Darwen all his life and had attended Holy Trinity and Moorland schools in the town, police family liaison officer PC Andrew Spouse said.

He lived with his mother and step-father in Allerton Close, Darwen and was a keen football player. He is believed to have been returning from the JJB gym in Haslingden Road, Guide, which he attended most days, when the accident happened, PC Spouse said.

He said Mr Wastell was known by his surname to his friends and had a girlfriend of four years.

He left school at 16 and was taken on by Blackburn based independent training provider Training 2000. He then went on to work as a glass designer for plastics firm GAP, at Shadsworth Industrial Estate, Blackburn.

Mr Wastell's family said he enjoying playing with his Jack Russell dog and loved to wind people up.

Part of Marsh House Lane was closed after the accident and was re-opened at about 9.45pm.

Anyone who witnessed or has more information about the accident should call the Road Policing Unit at Accrington on 01254 353764.