THE King may have permanently "left the building" 30 years ago, but his presence is still being felt in East Lancashire.

Two men who are keeping his spirit alive are Steve Preston, who has gone on to become acknowledged as Britain's best Elvis tribute act, and Duncan Jeffries, who runs the Lancashire Elvis fan club.

Both men, from Haslingden and Edenfield respectively, can vividly remember the moment they heard that Elvis had died.

Steve, who is performing Elvis in Concert at the Thwaites Empire Theatre tonight said: "I was 18 and I remember watching the Nine O'Clock news, which said that there was a rumour Elvis had died. I stayed glued for the News At Ten, where they confirmed the death.

"It seemed unreal, like a member of the family had died. I thought Elvis doesn't die'. I fully expected him to go on till his 90s."

Duncan said he heard about Elvis's death when he was playing darts. He said: "I was 20, and remember hearing Tony Prince announce it on Radio Luxembourg. I had my first Elvis tattoo done the next day. I've got 17 now."

Steve, 42, is the only tribute act to perform in front of the Queen.

He got into singing by accident when the group he was in at college needed a new singer. He said: "We did an Elvis tribute as part of the act which got longer and longer because people liked it, and when the group split up, I went solo in pubs."

Steve progressed and in 1990 he was offered his first theatre role as the young Elvis. Eventually the UK version of the successful USA show Legends was formed and Steve again played the part of Elvis.

Steve said: "The best thing about being an Elvis impersonator is the buzz I get from being on the stage or on the TV. The worst aspect is the image. When people ask my wife what her husband does for a living, her toes curl."

Duncan, 50, became a fan aged seven in 1964 and said: "It was everything about him."

He visits Graceland in Memphis twice a year and lays a floral tribute at Elvis' grave.

Duncan added: "I called my first child Lisa-Marie, but she goes by the name of Lisa because she's embarrassed. The kids think I'm mad and aren't into it at all."

Another Elvis impersonator Jay Ashton, 37, of Blackburn, is performing at a sell-out gig in Northampton tonight. He said: "I remember my dad waking me up for school in the morning and telling me he had died. I was very upset."