THE father of a Whalley man allegedly murdered by his girlfriend on the Isle of Man has spoken of his shock over his son's tragic death.

Father-of-two Peter Ormiston had set up home in Ramsey, in the north east of the island, with his girlfriend of 15 months, Anne Marie Gosling, and was about to set up his own business there.

But the 50-year-old was found dead a week ago with stab wounds, and Anne Marie was arrested and charged with murder soon afterwards.

His father Roy lives in Nethertown Close, formerly the family farm, with second wife Margaret, 50.

The heartbroken Ormistons lost another son, Charlie, to cancer three years ago, and are now coming to terms with Peter's death. Roy, 75, said: "Things are a bit rough at the moment for the family.

"My son John came and told us a week ago on Monday. It knocked me for six.

"Peter was very well liked in the Ribble Valley and he was very popular on the Isle of Man. He had made a lot of friends over there. He was a great man and it's a tragedy."

Peter, who was born in Ramsbottom, attended Whalley Primary School, and Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe as a youngster, before getting involved in the building trade, and plant hire.

Before moving to the Isle of Man he had worked for a number of local firms including Castle Cement, and even ran his own plant hire business called Ormiston Demolition.

Keith Hall, quarry manager for Castle Cement, said: "He was a quarry man and was a very good lad. When he left he started up his own crushing business, and we had him back to do some work for us when he was self employed. We thought a lot of him."

Peter had two children, George, two, and James, 13, from previous relationships.

Peter had lived on the island for about three years, and 15 months ago met Anne Marie, a bank worker born and bred on the isle. They got engaged last summer.

Peter has a brother, John, and a sister, Margaret, both living in the Whalley area. His mother, also called Margaret, lives in Langho.

Roy said: "Peter had been to the Isle of Man three or four years ago, but only stayed a few months. Then he went back there and said he didn't think he would ever come back to the Ribble Valley again.

"I think he was just in the process of buying a big digger to start up a business with another man. He was very happy over there and he was well thought of."

John, 52, of Chapel Rise, Billington, said: "I would speak to him two or three times a month and he was here at Christmas.

"It came as a terrible shock. I was about the closest person to him. He was enjoying life in Isle of Man and said he liked it over there."

A service for Peter is due to take place at Whalley Church when his body is returned to England and he will be buried in Whalley and Wiswell Cemetery.

Anne Marie will appear in court on the Isle of Man on February 10.