A WELL-KNOWN lay preacher and popular butcher has died following an incident at his home.

Police believe Abel Glenn, 80, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley, fell from a ladder placed at the top of stairs as he was decorating the upstairs of his home.

He was discovered at the bottom of the stairs at 8.30am on Tuesday after a neighbour called the police because milk remained on the doorstep. The neighbour also reported hearing a bang on Monday night.

Paramedics were called to the house but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they were not treating the incident as suspicious and a post mortem examination was due to be carried out today. Officers said it was possible that Mr Glenn suffered a heart attack which caused him to fall.

Mr Glenn was well known in the community for his work as a lay preacher and as a popular butcher.

He owned Abel Glenn's Butcher's in Briercliffe. He was also a regular at nearby Hill Lane Baptist Church, Lane Bottom.

The coroner has been informed.