LIFELONG Clarets football fan Stephen Tyhurst is to be buried in a Burnley shirt.

Mr Tyhurst, who was 47, died at his home in Tennyson Avenue, Padiham, after months of fighting a heart problem.

One of his six daughters Sarah said: "He died peacefully in his sleep at home, which is what he wanted."

Before he died he told his family he did not want anyone to be miserable and dressed in black at his funeral.

Instead many will be wearing the claret and blue of his favourite football team.

Born in Burnley, Steve attended school in Rosegrove and worked first in engineering, at Main Gas in Padiham and, for the last nine years or so, as a nursing assistant at Calderstones, Whalley.

For the past nine months he had been off work due to his illness but his passing came as a shock to his many friends and family.

Sarah said: "He was at the last Burnley home game. He was a massive Burnley fan through and through."

Steve is survived by his partner Dawn Crump, daughters, Sarah, Alex, Bryoney, twins Faith and Liberty and Scarlet, sons, Peter and Shaun and grandchildren, Paris-Louise, Mason and Luke.

The funeral will be tomorrow from his home at 10am for a service at Greenbrook Methodist Church, Lowerhouse at 10.20am prior to interment at Burnley Cemetery at 11am.

Donations can be made to the British Heart Foundation.