TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Burnley landlord who has died, aged 67.

John Hirst began his career at The Royal, Colne Road, and went on to work as a steward at Burnley Cricket Club before finishing at the Coach and Horses Inn on Church Street.

Hundreds turned out for his funeral which started at his son's house in Brockenhurst Street and finished at Burnley Crematorium.

His son, Alaster, 38, held an impromptu celebration of his father's life at the Coach and Horses.

The forklift driver said that although his dad pulled his last pint in 1995, he remained a regular at the Coach and Horses.

He said: "We did not plan to have a do at the pub but there were around 200 people at the funeral so I thought a drink at the pub would give him a good send-off."

"He wouldn't have wanted anyone moping or being sad."

While landlord at the Coach and Horses, Mr Hirst created the "wellie wallop", a contest in which competitors attempt to drink the contents of a size-eight boot in the fastest time.

Mr Hirst was a keen sportsman in his younger days, boxing and playing cricket at county level as well as turning out for a local football team.

He developed a passion for horseracing and made frequent trips to Blackpool to sample the bitter of the local pubs.

Alaster, who himself ran the Coach and Horses Inn in the 1990s, said: "My dad spent his whole life in Burnley and loved the pubs here.

"But Blackpool also had a special place in his heart. He was a connoisseur of beer and he knew pubs across England."

"He was such a popular person and touched the lives of many people."

Mr Hirst also leaves a daughter, Joanne Holden, granddaughter Kelly-Louise, brother Peter, daughter-in-law Tracy and son-in-law Chris.