THE memory of a much-loved Barnoldswick sportsman and businessman has been immortalised in a new street name.

Housing Pendle have created Scothern Close, named to honour Ian Scothern, who died from cancer aged just 48 earlier in the year.

Mr Scothern played football for Barnoldswick United (now Barnoldswick Town) and for Barnoldswick CC.

Mr Scothern, who was survived by wife Kathy, was also a company director at the family-owned electrical retailer Harry Garlick.

The father-of-two lived in Barnoldswick all his life and was educated at Gisburn Road Primary School and Park High School in Colne before going on to Nelson and Colne College.

He completed a business degree at Preston Polytechnic before going to work for the family business aged 19.

But now his legacy will live on in the £4 million development built by Housing Pendle. The street signs were unveiled at a special street party to mark the official completion of the scheme.

The development is a mixture of two and three-bedroom terraced homes built on a 2.3-acre area of vacant shrubland that will be made available for affordable rent to local families.

Janette Taylor, head of Housing Pendle, said: “These homes are a huge boost not only to the new occupants but to the local economy.

“There is a shortage of affordable homes across Pendle, but we are building quality schemes across the borough to meet this need.

“The development takes on added significance as we’re honouring Mr Scothern and it was great to have members of his family at our official opening and street party.”

Richard Hutchinson, managing director at Harbur Construction, said: “It’s always very pleasing to see a development take shape and then to see the homes completed and handed over to the customer.

“We’re pleased now that local families can begin moving in and benefitting from these affordable homes.”

All of the homes in the project in Barnoldswick meet the Homes and Communities Agency’s design and quality standards.