TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of a 44-year-old man following a heart attack.

Paul Burton, known to his friends as Burty, died in the early hours of Wednesday following a heart attack in Morecambe last week.

The attack resulted in a lack of oxygen to the brain, causing irreparable brain damage, and he died in Royal Lancaster Infirmary where he had been cared for since the time of the attack.

Mr Burton went to Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, before he became a mechanic at Broadfield Garage in Oswaldtwistle, where he worked for around 20 years.

He also worked as a mechanic in Great Harwood and latterly Standen’s MOT Centre in Morecambe, where he lived at the time of the incident.

He was a keen football fan and a former Accrington Stanley season ticket holder, and followed the England national team. He was also a car enthusiast and regularly attended motor shows.

Music was also a big part of his life and he loved 90s dance music and had been a regular at the Zone nightclub in Blackpool.

He leaves behind siblings Peter and Susan and son Reece, who paid tribute to his late father.

He said: “He’s the best man I have ever known. He was always the life and soul of the party.

“People have told me he was a loyal and lifelong friend and everyone has very fond memories of him.

“Me and all of his friends will miss him so much.”

Jason Robinson, who has been friends with Mr Burton since school, said: “I’m just so devastated that he’s gone.

“We’ve been through lots of ups and downs together but he always came through smiling.

Details for Mr Burton’s funeral will be announced in due course.