PUBLICANS have paid tribute to the longest serving Haslingden landlord Dave Eli Dewhurst who was found dead at his town centre pub.

His wife Pat had been in Benidorm on holiday and flew back on Monday night to be greeted by the couple's children and Dave's two children who broke the news.

She said: "The family is devastated by the news. He locked up after Sunday night and must have died behind the door because he was found by a family friend the next morning.

"The children did not want to tell me while I was on holiday and so as soon as the plane landed I was asked to leave because there was a 'problem with my luggage'. They escorted me through customs and when I saw the children I just collapsed."

Dave, 61, and Pat had been together for 26 years and bought the Roebuck in August 1983. At one time they renamed the pub in Lower Deardengate Eli's Palace and now there is a bottle bar inside named Eli's.

Trevor Edwards from the Station Hotel, Helmshore, said: "He was a great friend of ours.. It has come as a great shock to everybody.

"Everyone knows Dave and he was a founder member of Haslingden Pool League. The Roebuck was his first pub and he made a great success of it." Landlady of the White Horse, Helmshore, Sue Colwell said: "It is tragic. He used to come up here with the pool teams and we used to got down there. We are shocked." Shelley and Tony Pye of The Magnet, Blackburn Road, Haslingden were shocked to hear of David's death. Tony said: "I have only had the Magnet for a short time but I have lived in Haslingden for many years and have known Dave through drinking at the Roebuck.

"He was very well respected and very well-known."

Ray Mill of The Forresters Arms, Pleasant Street, Haslingden, said: "He was the first chairman and founder member of Haslingden and Helmshore Pool League which started in 1966.

"He was a good help to myself and June when we moved in six years ago and we appreciated that.

"He will be sadly missed by fellow landlords in Rossendale."

It is thought he died of natural causes.

The funeral is planned for Wednesday with a service at St James' Church, Haslingden, before burial in Haslingden Cemetery. For details contact 01706 214498.