A CLOSE friend of a man who died after suffering stab wounds has revealed the moment she saw him dying outside the pub where he used to live.

Jackie Haigh, 43, paid an emotional tribute to Robert Davidson, 58, who she described as 'full of life'.

Police said Mr Davidson died after an altercation in Wasdale Close, Padiham, on Sunday February 1, at around 6.30pm.

Detectives from Burnley are expected to travel to Newcastle later this week to interview relatives as part of a murder investigation.

Mr Davidson lived at the Hare and Hounds pub when he moved to Padiham from Newcastle more than 10 years ago.

Jackie, licensee at the Whalley Range pub, in Church Steet, saw him lying outside just before his death and said: "The ambulance crew were doing their best to keep him awake.

"I was holding his hand and talking to him but he just kept saying to me 'I want to go home' -- I think he knew what had happened but I didn't want to tell him to panic him.

"We can't believe he's gone. The place is not the same without him. He was so full of life. Everyone around here feels numb and many are still in shock.

"I feel so sorry for his family because he loved them all so much. He was a great grandad, dad, and friend. He went back to Newcastle to see all his family regularly."

Bob, of Parish Street, Padiham, known to friends in the the area as 'Geordie Bob' was said to be 'on top of the world' after recently winning a Crane Driver of the Year award.

Bob, worked all over the country as a crane driver, and moved to Padiham from Newcastle after working on the demolition of Padiham B power station in the early 1990s.

Bob leaves a son, Terry, and daughters, Kirsty and Kelly, and grandchildren, Jack and Demi.

Arrangements for his funeral are still being organised , with the licensees of the Whalley Range hiring a coach for anybody wanting to travel to the funeral which will be held in his native North-East.

The are also organising a fundraising night before the funeral takes place.

Bob's best friend, Mark Taylor, 48, of West Street, Padiham, said: "We were so different in every way, yet we got on so well.

"I was the only one who could get away with calling him 'Fatman'. I didn't mean it with any offence it was just a nickname for him because his presence, wherever he went was always huge."

William Hill, 46, of Wasdale Close, Padiham, has been charged with murder and remanded on bail until March 3 by Burnley magistrates.