A taxi driver is believed to have been chasing two passengers who tried to make off without paying the fare when he collapsed and died of a heart attack.

Parvez Akhtar, 49, known to his family and friends as "Ch" Adalat Khan, is understood to have driven a man, aged 22, and a woman, 19, from Leeds to Doncaster in the early hours of last Sunday.

The grandfather, of Selborne Terrace, Manningham, Bradford, who had a triple coronary bypass operation in 2005, was found collapsed near his cab in Ruskin Drive in Armthorpe at 5am.

The man and the woman were arrested soon afterwards by South Yorkshire Police on suspicion of making off without payment. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Today Mr Akhtar's devastated family have paid tribute to the "wonderful father and grandfather".

His four children said they are still reeling from his death, which follows the death of their mother, Matloob Bi in a car accident on the A647 Stanningley bypass in 2003.

The couple's daughter, Rehana Kauser, 27, who was also severely injured in the accident, said she was struggling to come to terms with the second family tragedy. She said her father was a licensed taxi driver with Leeds City Council.

The mother-of-two said: "He was just a great dad. He brought us up in a good way; he gave us all the love in the world. He gave us mum's love as well. He was always there for us; he always encouraged us.

"I only saw him on Saturday night - we had been to a wedding and I last saw him at 11pm. I only live down the road from him and every night he would ring me and see how I was and the kids.

"He and my two-year-old son, Mohammed Harris Hussain, were obsessed with one another. My son used to ask to look out the window so he could see him."

Despite Mr Akhtar's heart operation, Mrs Kauser said she cannot believe her father suffered a heart attack.

She said: "I just don't believe it. He went for a check-up in June and he was fine. I am going to try to investigate what has happened. He was totally healthy; he was fit."

Mr Akhtar's youngest daughter, Shabana, will mark her 21st birthday on Saturday and said she would still have a family party.

Mr Akhtar's sons Sajid, 30, and Majid, 23, lived with their father. Majid ran a milk round with the help of his dad. Mr Akhtar also leaves a grandson, ten-month-old Mohammed Eissa Hussain and a one-year-old granddaughter, Sahar Akhtar.

His funeral was held at Carlisle Road mosque on Monday.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed officers were continuing to investigate the circumstances which led to Mr Akhtar's death and are seeking information to "establish the full facts of the case".