A GRANDAD died of a suspected heart attack in front of his grandson while driving.

The 61-year-old man lost control of his Ford Escort Van and crashed into railings outside the skate park in Eagle Street, Accrington, on Saturday.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate him by the side of the road but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

His 14-year-old grandson, a passenger in the car, was unharmed but said to be distressed.

Police said the crash itself was minor and that the man had died as a result of a heart attack or something similar.

It is not known if the youngster called the emergency services himself.

Inspector Mick Laraway, of Accrington Police, said: "The young boy was able to tell us the story and it transpired the man had either a heart attack or stroke."

Eagle Street and nearby Paradise Street were closed for an hour and Insp Laraway said it caused a lot of congestion in Accrington town centre.

A woman who lives in Eagle Street said: "I saw a lot of police around the railings in the afternoon but I didn't know what had happened. There are a lot of accidents on this road."

Investigations are still continuing to establish what happened. The coroner has been informed.