BLACKBURN-BORN broadcaster and journalist Alan Fawcett has died at the age of 50.

He was taken ill before Rovers' Worthington Cup game at Wigan on Tuesday night and died in hospital the following day.

Alan, who worked in the commercial department at Rovers before moving into local government as a press officer with Lancashire County Council and Wigan Metropolitan Council, had heart by-pass surgery seven weeks ago.

He was President of the Central and West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and in a varied career also had a spell as general manager of the Wigan Rugby League club.

Latterly he ran his own PR business, specialising in motoring for various magazines.

He lived at Winstanley, Wigan, and leaves a wife Janine, and three children.