A 57-year-old man collapsed and died while shopping with his wife in Accrington town centre yesterday.

Police and paramedics were called to the market square near Wilkinsons at 2.30pm when the man, who has not been named, collapsed.

Efforts to revive the man failed and he was certified as dead at the scene, police said.

His body was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and the coroner has been informed.

Inspector Gary Crowe said: “It seems that the man died suddenly while shopping with his wife.

“We believe the death is down to natural causes.”

A spokesperson for Wilkinsons said staff had been unaware of the incident.

She said: “We didn’t know about it until the police came to us asking for CCTV footage.”