TRIBUTES have been paid to a 36-year-old man who died from suspected 'sudden adult death syndrome'.

Mark Christian Allott, better known as ‘Mallett’ to his friends because of his initials, was found dead on the narrowboat home he shared with best friend Tony Read.

The pair, who had been living in their narrowboat docked on the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Salterforth Wharf for just three months, had recently bought and renovated the boat.

Mum Gillian Allott, 66, of Holme Crescent, Trawden, said: “I was visiting my other son in American when Mark died. We don’t know for definite what happened but the coroner seemed to think he had died from the adult version of cot death.

“Mark was a very popular, boisterous, bubbly, loud and lively lad.

“More than 200 people came to his funeral which shows how much he was loved.”

Mark went to Trawden Primary School before moving to Padiham and attending Gawthorpe High School.

After leaving school, he began working at Silentnight, in Barnoldswick, and had various other jobs before he put his woodwork skills to good use making sofa frames for Furnico in Colne where he had been employed for 10 years.

Mrs Allott said: “I can not believe the amount of cards, flowers and tributes I have received.

“Mark will clearly be missed by a lot of people, including his family and his work colleagues.”

Mark died in his sleep on December 17.

Outside work, Mark enjoyed socialising with friends, watching sport, getting on his push bike wearing silly hats and would often be seen outdoors caring for the garden, walking the dog or fishing.

He leaves behind his mum, stepdad Mick, 67, brother Jonathan, sister-in-law Sarah and nieces Georgia, seven and Catherine, five.