A BANK worker today spoke of his "regret" after he e-mailed more than 350 Blackburn Rovers supporters suggesting club supremo Jack Walker had died.

Jim Burrows, 38, said he sent the message to the Blackburn Rovers mailing list after he heard the rumour from a relative who works in Darwen.

The e-mail sparked a flurry of rumours and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph was inundated with inquiries from readers asking if the rumour was true.

Mr Burrows, a Blackburn Rovers fan who moved to London 20 years ago, said: "I totally regret putting the message on the mailing list.

"After I did it, I thought to myself, 'What have I done?'"

Mr Burrows, a member of the London branch of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters' Club is a market data technical specialist for Radobank International in London.

The e-mail that was sent to the mailing list and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph said: "I had a phone call at work today that Jack Walker had died. I've been unable to confirm this from any source. Can anyone discount this rumour?"

But Mr Burrows said today: "I was only trying to get the rumour discounted. I spoke to other Rovers fans who said they had heard the same rumour from other sources.

"I suppose it was one of those urban myths."

A statement from the Trustees of Jack Walker 1987 Settlement, said: "In the last few days there has been significant speculation about Mr Walker's health which has caused unnecessary distress to Mr Walker and his family.

"Mr Walker has returned to hospital to receive further treatment as planned. He is due to return home in the next few days and will continue to follow the advice of his medical team.

"Mr Walker appreciates the genuine inquiries about his health but he has asked again that both his and his family's privacy is respected at this time."