A FORMER Rishton landlord has died after battling a brain tumour.

Ian Walsh, who made headlines earlier this year when he married his soulmate in a side room at Royal Blackburn Hospital, passed away on Thursday.

He was 54.

Wife Glenda, of Commercial Street, said: "He battled and battled but he just got worse and he took a bad turn on Tuesday.

"My hero battled to the end."

Mr Walsh was a firefighter in Liverpool for 30 years before he moved to Rishton a decade ago.

He met Glenda while singing karaoke on a night out and the pair went on to become well known throughout Rishton for their tenure as landlord and landlady of The Roebuck Inn.

After Mr Walsh was diagnosed, his family and friends joined forces to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

He and Glenda also exchanged vows in a side room at Royal Blackburn Hospital after doctors warned his condition was terminal.

Mourners have been asked to gather at The Roebuck Inn in High Street at 11.30am on Friday.

A minute's silence will be observed before the funeral cortege travels to Accrington Crematorium in Burnley Road for a service at 12.20pm.

Family flowers only have been requested, but donations are being welcomed to East Lancashire Hospice.

Mr Walsh's family has also asked mourners to avoid wearing black, and to take red balloons for release after the service.