A brother has paid tribute following the sudden death of a 35-year-old dad-of-four from Accrington.

David Swift died suddenly of heart failure at his mum Carol’s home on Worsley Court, Oswaldtwistle in the early hours of Saturday, February 6.

The ‘sports-mad’ former butcher was born in Accrington as one of four children to mum Carol, 65, and dad, the late William Swift.

Brother Mark, 43, said: “Sport took over his life. He played cricket in Saturday leagues and loved playing snooker at Platt Social Club on Blackburn Road and pool at the Tinker and Budget pub in Oswaldtwistle.

“I think he played pool the Thursday before he died.”

He added: “He even called his daughter Chelsea after going to see the team with one of their fans he played cricket with.”

A pupil at Hyndburn Park Primary School and later Moorhead High School, David studied Sports and Leisure at Accrington and Rossendale College.

He then became a butcher at the old Dewhurst butchers on Eastgate, and did the same job at Kwik Save on Union Street, before it shut down.

Mark said: “He stopped working as a butcher after that.

“I think the stress of my dad dying affected him a lot as they were very close and David lived with him on India Street before William died.”

He added: “It was a big shock when my mum’s partner, Dave, called me and told me there was an ambulance there and they were struggling to revive him.

“You expect to bury your parents but not your younger brother or sister.”

He added that David was ‘brilliant with children’.

He said: “He always babysat mine and my brother Andrew’s kids. They’ll really miss him.”

Son of the late William, David, of India Street, leaves children Chelsea, Jayden, Ellie and Keaton, mum Carol, brothers Mark and Andrew and sister Deborah, as well as nieces and nephews.

A committal service will take place in Accrington Crematorium at 11am on Thursday, February 18.

Family flowers only are requested with donations to British Heart Foundation via champfuneralservices.com/obituaries.