FRIENDS have paid tribute to "one of life's characters" after the death of a pensioner who was hit by a car in Accrington.

Robert Larner, 74, suffered serious head injuries when he was knocked down by a car while trying to cross Hyndburn Road last Wednesday and died in Blackburn Infirmary on Sunday.

And neighbours have hit out at the "lowest of the low" thugs who targeted Mr Larner's home on the night he died by throwing a brick through a rear window.

Residents in Lincoln Avenue, Church, where Mr Larner lived, believe the attack was an attempted burglary by people who knew the house would be empty because he had died.

Next-door neighbour Peter Sheriff, 61, said: "I heard the window smash. It was about 10pm, and I rushed out to see what was going on but there was no-one there.

"It is a terrible thing to do. I'm sure they were trying to break in. People like that are the lowest of the low."

A divorcee who lived on his own, Mr Larner had no family.

A retired grinder, he made mining equipment for most of his life.

He was well known in the Spread Eagle pub in Blackburn Road, Accrington, where he was a regular.

He played for the pub's darts and dominoes team and was playing dominoes in the Spread Eagle the night before he died.

Irena Bolton, 34, said Mr Larner, or Bob as he was known, was her "best friend".

She said: "He will be greatly missed.

"He was a very lovable and likeable man, although he kept himself to himself."

At the Spread Eagle another friend, Eileen Cooper, 57, said: "He was a real character and a lovely man. He always had a fag in his mouth!"

Police officers are currently completing an investigation into the incident, which saw Mr Larner clipped by a Mini being driven by a 24-year-old local man.