A POPULAR former publican has died suddenly in hospital following a heart operation.

Frank Morton, who ran the Beehive Hotel, Preston Old Road, Blackburn, with his wife Dorothy, died on Thursday, aged 78, in intensive care at Blackburn Royal Infirmary with his family by his side.

His death came after he suffered a heart attack following an operation to replace an artery. An inquest will be held.

His wife, of Cecilia Road, Blackburn, said: "His death has come as such a shock. All the family are devastated. He seemed all right until he had the heart attack."

Originally from Nottingham, Mr Morton met Blackburn-born Dorothy during the Second World War, in which he served as a Sergeant Major and was mentioned in dispatches.

After the war, the pair settled in Blackburn and started their pub career at the Vulcan in Blackburn town centre, which they ran for five years. They later managed The Black Horse in Clitheroe for 13 years before taking over The Beehive Hotel, which they ran for 13 years.

During his time managing pubs, Mr Morton, who lost an eye in a roofing accident, raised thousands of pounds for the blind school in Blackburn and also for leukaemia research.

Mr Morton, a member of St Mark's Conservative Club in Blackburn, leaves two sons, Frank and Peter, daughter Dorothy, eight grandchildren, two sisters Mavis and Margaret, and a brother Ted.

His wife added: "As a publican he was firm but fair. He loved his customers and everybody had an awful lot of respect for him. All the football lads were like sons to him and treated him like their own father. It was incredible.

"Everyone in the family loved him so much. He absolutely doted on his family and he was a wonderful father and grandfather. He will be sadly missed."

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