TONY Wilson, the record label mogul who was trying to raise the profile of East Lancashire, has died of cancer aged 57.

Salford-born Mr Wilson is widely regarded as the founder of the "Madchester" scene, which was instrumental to the regeneration of Manchester in the 1980s and 90s.

He was well know for his world-famous Hacienda nightclub and Factory Records music label with seminal bands including Joy Division and New Order.

He was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year and underwent emergency surgery to remove a kidney in January. Subsequent chemotherapy and medication failed and he died yesterday (Friday).

Mr Wilson and his partner Yvette Livesey had been working with Elevate, the Housing Market Renewal company, to raise the profile of East Lancashire in the same way he had seen Manchester re-invent itself since the 70s.

Elevate chief executive Max Steinberg had drafted in Mr Wilson and his partner to find "big ideas" that would transform the image of East Lancashire to attract investment and improve the economy. One of their more controversial ideas was to re-brand the area as "Pennine Lancashire".

Tributes have been pouring in for Mr Wilson, also a respected broadcaster and left-wing political campaigner, whose life was immortalised in the 2002 film 24-Hour Party People.