A couple who died in yesterday’s storm-triggered gas explosion in Hounslow have been named.

Suhail Akhtar, 46, and his 34-year-old girlfriend Dorota Kolasinska were found in the debris around five hours after firefighters started searching the three obliterated houses with sniffer dogs in Bath Road.

Mr Akhtar, who is originally from Huddersfield and whose family own a shop in Halifax, was an IT contractor while Miss Kolasinka is believed to have been a traffic light sequencer for Hackney Council.

The gas explosion is believed to have been sparked by a tree falling on one of the houses 20 minutes before, and five other people managed to escape, with one elderly lady suffering from life-changing injuries

Getwestlondon.co.uk exclusively spoke to relatives and friends of Mr Akhtar in Huddersfield. His grieving brother, Ovais Akhtar, described him as a top man. He said: “We cannot believe this has happened. It is such a terrible waste.

“He was only up here visiting us a couple of weeks ago and was looking forward to a return visit to meet up with his friends in Huddersfield.

“He moved to Hounslow about 30 years ago to work in IT and was doing really well. He loved his job and his girlfriend and had just bought himself a superbike to ride out on.”

Mr Akhtar leaves behind two brothers and two sisters, as well as a host of friends. Close friend, Sheldon Hawkshaw, 42, said: “I spoke to him nearly every day.  We went skiing together, motorcycling every weekend - he was very active, always in the gym.

“He was a go-to guy. He always had time for everyone, he was a great friend to us. He always made us laugh and will be sorely missed.”

A funeral is being planned for Mr Akhtar at a mosque in Thornton Lodge, Huddersfield.