CHRISTMAS presents bought for devoted father-of-two Les Ahmed remain unopened under the tree.

Yesterday, his wife, Julie, should have been meeting her husband to celebrate a belated family Christmas - planned to take place today at their detached home in South Shields.

Instead, the 40-year-old was travelling to Blackpool with police officers to formally identify the body of the man she had been married to for six years.

Mr Ahmed, 47, an experienced offshore worker, had been looking forward to returning to see his sons, Lewis, 12, and ten-year-old Joel, now being cared for by their maternal grandmother.

Mrs Ahmed's mother, Jean, said: "Les was right at the end of a ten-day stint and was looking forward to coming home to see the boys and Julie.

"They were going to have a family Christmas a few days later, and they were all looking forward to it.

"Les' presents are still under the tree and the lads are heartbroken.

"We are just telling them to be big, brave, strong boys for their mother."

She added: "He was an excellent husband and an excellent provider for his family. He was a family man. He adored his wife and he idolised his boys.

"Julie was told what happened last night, when the police came round.

"The neighbours heard her shouting - it came as such a shock. It is a dangerous job working out there, and it's easy for people to forget that."