A RISHTON man who had appeared healthy and in high spirits has been found dead by his 10-year-old son.

Father-of-five David Granite, 38, had spent last Friday evening drinking with a friend at a flat above the Mighty Munch sandwich shop in High Street.

His son discovered him at 9.15 on Saturday morning, 45 minutes after the shop had opened.

His 15-year-old daughter Jade was working there, and was wondering why her dad had not appeared for his usual cuppa and chat.

Originally from Liverpool, David moved to Blackburn when he was three but had lived in Bridge Street, Rishton, for 13 years.

He had been together with long-term partner Vanessa Hall for 19 years and was looking forward to becoming a grandfather for the first time in just six weeks.

A labourer by trade, he enjoyed playing computer games and was a car enthusiast – while he was out of work he had been trying to get a job spraying cars.

He had many friends and was very well known in the Accrington, Blackburn and Great Harwood areas.

Friends and family described him as having a heart of gold and, in a joint statement, said: "You couldn’t meet a more devoted father. If you were in need he would help you."

His younger sister Anne had visited him the previous afternoon and found him in good form.

She said: "I was with him that day and he and his friend were having a beer together."

His mum Dorothy said her son had always made sure the family was all right, adding: "He was a good son. He may have got up to mischief when he was younger but he was a good dad."

Vanessa, 32, added: "He always said that having Kyle had calmed him down and helped him take responsibility.

"Everyone is gobsmacked but I’ve got to be strong for the kids.

"He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way."

David leaves partner Vanessa and their five children Kyle, Jade, T-Jay, Kristan and Chelsea, mum Dorothy, brother Tony, sisters Kelly and Anne, and friends Bonita and Bradley.

A funeral service will be held in St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Rishton, at 1pm on Tuesday before burial in Great Harwood Cemetery.

Police confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.