TRIBUTES have been paid to a cheerful landlady who served up pints with a smile for almost two decades in a busy Accrington pub.

Catherine Eubank, former landlady of the Nag's Head, died on Saturday after battling Alzheimer's disease for several years.

The 79-year-old ran the Blackburn Road pub for 17 years with her husband Samuel, between 1972 and 1988. The mother-of-two had spent much of her working life in the licensed trade, having previously held a job as a stewardess at the RSO Club in Euxton.

Daughter Andrea Chesko, 42, said: "She really liked the social aspect of working in the pub and was popular with all the regulars. She loved having people around her. She was friendly and helpful but could keep the peace if she had to."

Mrs Chesko added: "She devoted everything to the pub and you could see that - even though it was a town centre pub it had a real community feel to it."

Mrs Eubank, who lived in Accrington for 38 years, died at the Church View Nursing Home, Accrington, on Saturday.

Her funeral was being held at Accrington Crematorium today at 3pm, with drinks afterwards at the Nag's Head. Family flowers only, donations to the Alzheimer's Society.