THE widow of a man who died after tackling burglars at his holiday home today welcomed the news that police in Blackburn would be investigating the case.

Blackburn deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton called in Lancashire police after expressing concern over the way the death of Joe McCaughran, of Walden Road, Blackburn, has been dealt with.

Mr McCaughran, a 69-year-old retired BT worker, was dragged along the road by the burglars' getaway car as he tried to stop them making off from the family's holiday home in the Torrevieja area with a camcorder and film of his four-month-old grandson Jack.

He died from a blood clot on his brain nine days later, on June 28.

At an inquest held in Blackburn last Tuesday she recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. As a result, details of the case will be passed to the police force local to the coroner's court -- Blackburn Police -- who will have to investigate it.

Sheila McCaughran, who watched as her husband was injured and gave a statement at the inquest, today said she was pleased local police officers would be involved.

Mrs McCaughran, of Walden Road, Blackburn said: "We are pleased to here that detectives from Blackburn will be investigating Joe's death as well.

"From what we can gather, very little has been done by the Spanish authorities to find who is responsible.

"It is reassuring to know officers we will be able to make contact with will be investigating what went on.

"We know it won't bring my husband back, but we will feel better if we know justice has been done."

Reporters working for an English-speaking newspaper in the Costa Blanca have revealed police have been slow to act to find the burglars.

They haven't even made an appeal for information.