AN East Lancashire businessman has died in a yachting accident in a Spanish marina.

Alan Taylor, 63, of Windsor Road, Great Harwood, died on holiday in Malaga.

Mr Taylor, who married his wife Pauline about 18 months ago, was on a yacht moored in Fuengirola marina, near Malaga, when the accident happened.

Blackburn's coroner Michael Singleton has been informed and an inquest is expected to be held.

His wife has returned home but was too upset to speak about the tragedy today.

Mr Taylor's death is not thought to be suspicious, and the country's Guardia Civil, a police force usually concerned with issues including customs and crowd control, are said to have investigated the circumstances.

Mr Taylor, formerly of Water Street in Great Harwood, moved in with his wife on Windsor Road after their marriage.

His son, Mark formerly managed the Walmsley Arms, Queen Street, but is now in charge at the Gillibrand Arms, Collingwood Road, Chorley.

Mr Taylor is believed to have run the company 'SMS', an air conditioning firm based in Russell Place, Great Harwood, although it was dissolved in July 2003.

Today the couple's home was for sale, through Peter Davies and Co estate agents, and neighbours said Mrs Taylor had not been seen since they left for the holiday.

Fuengirola, where the accident happened, is on the Costa del Sol near Malaga airport, and is famed for its beaches. The area is popular with Spanish nationals and British tourists with many bars and restaurants for British tourists and ex-pats.

Pasquale Lamanno, spokesman for the Foreign Office, confirmed the death, on Sunday, January 18.

He said: "Our involvement was minimal. Mr Taylor's wife was there so everything was arranged by her."