A LANDLORD who helped turn around a village pub has died suddenly.

Nigel Schofield, who helped run the Buck Inn in Grindleton, Ribble Valley, was found dead at the Sawley Road premises where he worked with partner Andrea Flynn.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Tributes have been paid to a ‘great guy’ who celebrated his 50th birthday in April.

Phil Wilkinson, who lives in the village and runs the pub quiz, said: “Nigel was very well-known in Grindleton.

“He was a great guy behind the bar and was always full of beans.

“It is a complete shock to the village.

“Nigel and Andrea started running the Buck Inn in October and it has been nice to have the village pub back.

“It has gone through poor times and them being there has brought the village back to life again.

“The news of Nigel’s death is just so sad.”

Nigel, Angela and her two teenage daughters moved to the village nine months ago.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said he had known the landlord after visiting the pub as part of his role as a member of the The All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

He said: “Nigel had not long run the Buck Inn.

“It is clearly a personal tragedy and my heart felt sympathy and condolences go to his family and indeed to the village of Grindleton, who will all be shocked by this news.

“Everybody knew how hard he was working to turn the pub into something that Grindleton was proud of.

“This is such awful news.”

Andrew Elsy, manager of the Duke of York restaurant opposite the Buck Inn, said: “Nigel was a really well-liked guy.

“It comes as such a huge shock to everyone to hear he has died.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We were called by a woman, who had just arrived at work, to the Buck Inn at around 12.30pm on Thursday.

“We attended and found the body of a man.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and a file will be passed to the coroner.”