THE heartbroken fiance of a detective who died in a motorway smash today told of her heartache after turning down the chance to marry the 'love of her life'.

And in a tragic twist it has been revealed that Detective Sergeant Mick Thornber's father Thomas also died following a car crash whilst working abroad in the late 1970s. Det Sgt Thornber, 48, of Brownhill, Blackburn, was pronounced dead at the scene after his losing control of his MG ZR on the M56 near Cheshire last Sunday.

Today his fiance Anne Webster, 46, who is also a police constable, paid tribute to a "gentle, thoughtful and kind" man who "made me laugh".

The couple were engaged, but never set a date for their wedding despite spending 11 years together, even though he frequently proposed.

PC Webster said: "He was the love of my life and I absolutely adored him.

"He changed my life completely and turned it into something that would never be the same.

"Michael and I were so, so happy together and although we never married, he frequently asked me to be his wife.

"I am so sorry that we delayed it.

"I just want him to come home. Whilst my grief is incredibly hard to bear, I know that Michael was highly respected and loved by many and he will be sadly missed.

"I would like to thank all of our friends and colleagues for the hundreds of messages of support I have received and for all their kind words."

Det Con Thornber's mum, Doreen Bonner, added: "Michael was a most tender, caring and loving son. To lose him in such tragic circumstances makes it all the more difficult to understand."

And his daughter, Laura, 19, speaking for herself and on behalf of her mum, Karen, said: "This has come as a great shock to all of us. My dad will be deeply missed by many, especially by me, and my family. He was a very well respected man and a close friend to us all."

During his 29-year career, Det Sgt Thornber mainly worked in CID in the Eastern Division, covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

His last posting was as a detective in the Lancashire force's Hutton headquarters.

Colleagues have already paid tribute to him, saying he was hard-working, influential, decent man who played a big role in crime fighting in East Lancashire, winning four top commendations for his work.