Tributes have been paid to a chef who helped feed rescuers during the 9/11 attacks in New York.

Mick Baldwin, formerly of Great Harwood, Rishton and Baxenden, died when his Subaru Legacy crashed in Connecticut, USA, hitting a fence and tree.

He was alone in the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

The 41-year-old former Great Harwood scout leader moved to the USA more than 16 years ago to work in a chip shop in New York.

After the Twin Towers were hit by planes in 2001 the chip shop, located a mile away from Ground Zero, prepared free food for the rescue workers and emergency services.

Mick also helped raise $5,000 in two days for a police officer and regular customer who was killed in the attacks.

His dad Dave praised him as “one of life’s great guys” and said the accident came as a great shock.

He said: “It was a big bolt out of the blue. We couldn’t believe it. He was just one of those great guys and there was so much happening around him. Nobody could take offence to him and everybody loved him

“His brothers and sisters have been a tower of strength.”

Dave, 58, from Blackburn, said he was proud of the help Mick provided after the terrorist attacks.

 He said: “We were in Rishton at the time of 9/11 and I remember that all the phones were down. We were all very worried. He was keeping the workers going. Generosity has always been one of his big gifts. In his life he did as much as people twice his age.”

Mick, who was brought up in Blackburn and attended John Rigby High School, moved to New York with his then girlfriend Louise Goulding.

Last year the Blackburn Rovers fan relocated to Falls Village in Connecticut to work as a chef at the Hotchkiss School.

During his time in the USA he was a DJ at the Orchard Club and worked for the First Touch magazine writing reviews and interviewing music acts.

He leaves dad Dave, mum Susan, sisters Joanne and Jillian and younger brother Lewis.

A service will take place on Wednesday, February 6 at St Alban’s Church in Blackburn at 11am followed by a cremation.

There will also be a celebration of his life at the Blues Bar at Ewood Park.