The Cranford minicab driver killed in a hit-and-run smash on Saturday was a dedicated family man who was due to return to his family in Pakistan later this month.

Naseem Kayani, of Byron Avenue, Cranford, and Monica Kovacova both died after being hit outside her home in Perivale as he helped unload her bags from the boot of his car.

Mr Kayani's wife and four children returned to his home city of Islamabad last year, where he had been forwarding his salary, and the 46-year-old had already booked a ticket to fly out on September 30.

His childhood friend and former business colleague, Mohammad Kayani, said: "Naseem was a very generous man and very kind to everybody.

"His whole world revolved around his family and all he ever wanted to talk about was his children.

"He was very hard-working and never used to drink and everyone who knew him is absolutely devastated."

Mr Kayani had lived in England, where he previously worked as a butcher and restaurateur, for about 16 years.

He was working for Eagle Chauffeurs when he was struck by a BMW in Bilton Road at about 1.30am on Saturday.

The driver of the £80,000 sports car, described as an Asian man wearing dark clothing, got out of his car and fled on foot.

Ms Kovacova was one of Mr Kayani's regular passengers. He would pick the 21-year-old Slovakian woman up every weekend and ferry her to the bar where she worked.

Mr Kayani's former colleague Mohammed Iqbal, day controller at Eagle Chauffeurs, described him as an excellent driver and a pleasure to work with.

• Anyone with information is asked to call the Collision Investigation Unit at Alperton on 020 8998 5319 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.