THE driving force behind a theatre group's 10-year fight for a new home in Burnley died in a fall in the cellar of his home, an inquest heard.

Alan Daiches died in the accident at his Moseley Road home in February a week before his birthday.

An inquest heard Mr Daiches, who was instrumental in the campaign to build a new base for Burnley Youth Theatre, was walking back up the stairs from the cellar when he tripped on a wire flex and fell.

Following his death tributes poured in to the 66-year-old youth theatre board member and former Burnley Council worker, who was also a key figure in the development of Burnley Mechanics.

Chairman of the youth theatre board Alan Walker and former and current Burnley MPs Peter Pike and Kitty Ussher all lined up to sing Mr Daiches' praises.

Theatre bosses first proposed building a new theatre in 1994. The £1.4million state-of-the-art premises in Queen's Park Road opened last year.

It boasts a 135-seater auditorium, a large studio for workshops and performances, a cafe, meeting rooms and offices, dressing rooms and an outdoor performance area.

Mr Daiches joined Burnley Council in 1984 and worked on promoting the borough, particularly through tourism. Colleagues at the council remembered Mr Daiches' passion for the arts, particularly jazz.

He also played a central part in the launch of Burnley Youth Theatre.

In 1986, when the Mechanics re-opened after being closed since the late 1950s, Mr Daiches was based at the theatre in his role as arts, entertainment and tourism manager.

He retired in 1997 but still worked with the youth theatre.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death.