AN elderly couple were found dead in their home after they had not been seen for several days.

Frances Thresh, 75, and partner Terry Shore, 81, are believed to have died one or two days apart.

Police were called to their house in Whitegate Close, Padiham, after a concerned neighbour raised the alarm.

Miss Thresh had been battling pneumonia while Mr Shore was suffering from a peptic ulcer.

Samantha Davison, Miss Thresh’s niece, of Wordsworth Avenue, said the couple, who never married and lived there for 10 years, were 'inseparable'.

She said: “They were always together and clearly loved one another.

"They were very happy and they will be missed.

“They had been partners for more than 20 years and loved going on holidays together to Blackpool.

“Auntie Frances was born and bred in Padiham. She loved listening to Elvis Presley.

“It’s strange how they have both passed away at the same time but they hadn’t been able to leave the house much recently. I hadn’t seen her for a while and it makes you feel a bit guilty.

“I understand they died one or two days apart.”

Mr Shore, who grew up in the town’s Stockbridge Road, worked as a labourer doing odd jobs until his retirement.

Miss Thresh leaves behind three sisters, Joyce, Doreen and Joan, and three brothers, Arthur, Alan and Keith. She had attended Padiham County Primary School.

Michelle Baker, 38, lived next door to the couple for 11 years.

She said: “They were really friendly but very much kept themselves to themselves. You could tell he really looked after her. We hadn’t seen them for a few weeks.”

Lancashire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths.

A spokesman said: “We were called to the house in Whitegate Close at around 6.50pm on December 4 after a passer-by raised concerns for the safety of the couple living there.

“Upon entering, officers found the two deceased bodies.”

The East Lancashire Coroner’s office said that the couple had died from ‘natural causes’ and that no inquests would be held into their deaths.

Their funeral will be held on December 18, with a cortege leaving Wordsworth Avenue, Padiham, before a service at Burnley Crematorium at 1.40pm.