AN ACCRINGTON man accused of confronting TV star Shane Richie on the EastEnders' set has had the case against him dropped.

Unemployed roofer and former boxer Raymond Taylor, 33, was alleged to have demanded acting lessons from the star, who plays Alfie Moon, as he recorded a scene with his screen wife Kat, played by Jessie Wallace.

Mr Taylor, of Cedar Street, Accrington, was accused of going equipped for burglary with a screwdriver and a pair of wirecutters, to the BBC studios at The Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, on Friday, April 2.

Prosecutors have now informed Mr Taylor that the case, which was due to be heard at St Alban's Magistrates Court, is being discontinued.

Today nobody was answering the door at the address in Cedar Street, in Accrington, where Ray Taylor is believed to live.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said Mr Taylor kept himself to himself, and was rarely seen.

He said: "He isn't a troublemaker or anything., it's just one of those things. That guy might be his idol or something. Shane Richie is a good actor, a lot of people like him. I don't think he meant to cause any trouble, they probably got the wrong end of the stick."