A PARISH council chairman is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack before falling from a tree.

Alan Lawson, who was chairman of Worsthorne Parish Council, was up a ladder in his back garden, in Ravenoak Lane, Worsthorne, when he fell while cutting branches.

The former Towneley and St Theodore’s High Schools teacher was airlifted to the Royal Blackburn Hospital after the fall on Thursday of last week, but died shortly after.

An inquest heard he had a history of heart problems and died from natural causes.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, at St Mary’s Church, Todmorden Road, Burnley, from 10am, and he will be buried at Burnley Cemetery at 11.30am.

A buffet will be held at St John’s Church, Worsthorne, following the funeral. All welcome.