A 91-year-old man has been left homeless following a fire days before he was due to receive an MBE for his services to football.

And all Syd Parkinson, of Barrowford Road, Colne, was bothered about after fleeing the fire was his precious kit bag, which he has used for over 40 years in his work as a physio.

He was so insistent about it that firefighters went back into this house and retrieved the bag, which was unscathed.

Syd was today still in hospital, despite having recovered, because he has nowhere to go to.

Experts reckon it will take at least six months before his home, which was left gutted, will be repaired and fit to live in again.

On Tuesday Syd will travel to London to receive the MBE in recognition of his work as physio at Colne Dynamoes and Baroldswick Town Football Club, where he still works.

Now three of his friends are trying to arrange for the day to be made extra special following the fire at his home last Tuesday.

They are hoping to book him into the Savoy Hotel and to take him on a limousine tour of the capital.

In the meantime, well wishers were today busy trying to find Syd temporary sheltered accomodation until his house was repaired.

It appears the blaze was caused after food was left unattended on the hob. Syd was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Duncan McFadyen, who was part of the Colne Dynamoes FA Vase winning team in 1988 when Syd was physio, said: "At the moment he is still in hospital because there is nowhere to put him.

"We are waiting to see if we can get some sheltered accommodation so he can still go out and about around Colne.

"He is fine but still in hospital because social services want to know where he is going.

"We are probably looking at six months by the time his home is up and running and he can return if he wants."

Syd will travel to London with friends Mr McFadyen, 46, Bacup Borough manager Brent Peters and Sky Sports producer Peter Smith, who nominated him for the award along with Premiership football managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce.