MEMBERS of an animal charity where Spike Milligan was patron for more than 20 years have paid tribute to the former Goon in the wake of his death.

The much-loved comic who died yesterday had a long-standing supporter of Burnley-based horses charity HAPPA but never visited the sanctuary's centres in Shores Hey Farm, Halifax Road, Briercliffe, and a second farm in Gwent.

Chairman Ken Cranage said: "I would like to pass on my regret at the sad loss of one of our patrons.

"It is a loss to the association because we really do need the support we get from our patrons.

"From the 20 odd years that he has been associated with HAPPA, he has never been to one of the centres, instead he supported us from afar but we were grateful to him for his financial contributions each year."