An army veteran whose family wrote to the Observer in a bid to track down his long- lost pal said he was devastated to hear his friend had died.

The daughter of Michael Tierney posted a letter in last week’s paper hoping for a reunion between her dad and his old friend Arthur Sowerbutts.

In the letter Mr Tierney, 81, described Arthur, who lived at 451 Blackburn Road, Accrington with his parents, as the ‘the nicest person I’ve ever met’.

Mr Tierney, who has been living in New Zealand for the last 40 years, also said Arthur's parents Arthur and Amelia treated him like a son.

Sadly, readers contacted us to say that Arthur Sowerbutts died on September 27, 1985, aged 55.

He is buried in Oswaldtwistle Immanuel Church yard alongside his parents.

Mr Tierney said: “Hearing Arthur was dead shocked me.

It’s sad I didn’t get in touch with him earlier.

“I’ve been trying and I finally wrote to see if I could arrange to meet him - but it was too late.”

The pair had been roommates when they were both part of the Royal Electrical Machine Engineers at a camp in Burscough in 1948.

During that period Arthur, a former blacksmith, invited Mr Tierney to his mum and dad’s regularly.

But the pair parted ways when Arthur was posted to Hong Kong as part of his National Service while Mr Tierney remained in the UK.

Clayton-le-Moors resident Tom Mason, 80, who was one of Arthur’s best friends, said he was a ‘real character’.

He said: “Arthur was a real character and a really good friend of mine. When we were both in the territorial army we used to go around the pubs in Blackburn. We were always celebrating something somehow.”

Great grandad Kenneth Benson, 81, of Perth Street, Accrington, said: “Arthur was great. We just got along and had many good times together. I remember when he was dying all that time ago, he really was quite ill. I don’t think he was ever married but he was a great person.”

Arthur’s cousin Joyce Plumber, who now lives in Cumbria after moving away from Oswaldtwistle, said: “I’m pleased so many people have been in contact with the Observer.  He’s been dead a long time but it’s so nice people have remembered him.”