TRIBUTES have been paid to a Pendleside athlete who has died suddenly after competing in the tough Barley fell race a few days earlier.

And today the widow of runner Derek Grimes revealed the death had come just a week after her father died.

Pam Grimes, of Fence, has been left devastated after Derek, and her father Norman Taylor died just days apart.

Mr Grimes, 68, a keen athlete, died on Friday following a heart attack after competing in the fell race as part of the Burnley and Pendle Grand Prix series the week before.

Mr and Mrs Grimes retired to the Pendle village five years ago and converted a cottage and barn into a new home.

The father-of-four and grandfather-of-four was a member of the Clayton Harriers.

Following the Barley race on June 12 he returned from a training run complaining he was unwell and was taken to Burnley General Hospital.

Mrs Grimes said it transpired that her husband suffered from a genetic heart disorder.

Mr Taylor, 82, was born in Darwen, but moved to Burnley in 1947.

He was staying with his daughter when he died.

According to Pam, he suffered an arterial embolism, a tear in the artery from heart to stomach.

Mrs Grimes said: "It's such a shock. Derek was so fit and healthy and had such a healthy lifestyle.

"He loved gardening too. He was genuinely interested in people and individuals.

"I am absolutely devastated and I don't know what I will do without him.

"He touched everybody that he met, he was a true gent.

"One Friday my father was dead, and the following Friday my husband was dead."

Derek was born in St Helens and worked for Ravenhead Glass.

He started with the company as a tea boy and ended as managing director.

Mrs Grimes said her husband was a popular man who was admired by friends and colleagues for his hard work and humour, and would be remembered as a true gent'. She said she had received scores of cards.

Pam said: "After he retired he was looking for a new project so we bought a farmhouse and converted the cottage and barn into a new home, and Derek had recently been spending a lot of time working in the garden.

"He ran in the Barley Fell Race and the following Sunday went out for a training run, but on Tuesday night he wasn't feeling well.

"In the middle of the night he felt sickly and had pains in his chest, I called the NHS Helpline and they contacted the ambulance who took him to Burnley General Hospital.

"An X-Ray showed a slight shadow on his right lung, but by Wednesday afternoon his lungs were filling with an infection."

A spokesman for Clayton Harriers said: "Derek has been a member of Clayton for about four years and could be seen at many of the local races.

"He was a member of the Clayton Wrinklies' and achieved many personal bests during the visit to Guernsey earlier this year."

Mr Grimes was due to compete in the Hendon Brook half marathon in Nelson on Sunday, where runners held a minute's silence.

He and Pam had four children, including two sons from Pam's previous marriage, Richard, Jason, Claire, and Nicholas.

Mr Taylor's funeral took place on Monday. A post mortem examination is due to be held to find out how Mr Grimes died.