REGULARS at the Commercial Hotel, Water, were made to pay for being happy on the night Alma died.

Shortly after what has been described as one of the most emotional scenes on television and as soap fans across the country shed tears, customers turned up at the Commercial, Burnley Road East laughing and joking.

Licensee John Corns said: ""They had been to see a turn at another local pub.

"I told them they had no right to be enjoying themselves on the night that Alma had died.

"I put a pint glass on the bar with a notice saying: ' For Alma' and collected £3.05p."

Mr Corns who has been licensee at the Commercial for three and a half years said: "Customers here do watch Coronation Street and everyone was talking about Alma's death.

"When the customers came back after being out enjoying themselves I said it was not right to be like that on such a sad occasion when so many people nationally were mourning."

The money collected will go to the annual Water Fete to be held next month.

Alma Halliwell, played by Amanda Barrie, made her tragic exit from the soap on Sunday as millions mourned her passing.