A MAN who died after an attempted break-in at his flat was a virtual prisoner in his own home after being plagued by youngsters, it was revealed today.

Trevor Whitehead, 61, was terrified to leave his house after dark after groups of teenagers threw stones and bricks at his back door, neighbours said.

And today local Hyndburn councillor Ian Ormerod revealed the problems with youths in the neighbourhood were brought up at a residents meeting last week.

Mr Whitehead, whose ex-wife and son still live in Accrington, collapsed and died following the attempted burglary at his flat in Blackburn Road, Accrington, opposite Hyndburn MP Greg Pope's constituency office on Wednesday.

Police are still awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of his death. Police said Mr Whitehead had called police after disturbing someone trying to break into the flat through the back door just before midnight.

Officers called at the flat and spoke to Mr Whitehead before searching the area.

However, when they returned to speak to Mr Whitehead again they discovered his body inside the flat. Christine Wieczorek, of the Upholstery Shop below the flat, said she had known Mr Whitehead, who used to sell antiques and bric-a-brac, for more than 50 years.

She added: "He was a bit of a loner who kept himself to himself most of the time, but he was really very polite whenever you talked to him. He'd lived up there all alone for the last few years after getting divorced from his wife and he was always scared of getting broken into.

"Kids used to hassle him all the time by throwing things at his back door."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: "He was terrified to go out of the back of his house though because he was scared of what might happen to him, especially at night. There were always kids hanging around out the back."

Coun Ormerod, leader of the Labour group on Hyndburn council said: "Youths misbehaving is a serious problem throughout the borough and I have been contacted by a number of my constituents about gangs of youths who are congregating near Highams playing fields and we had a residents meeting only last week about this."

A 22-year-old man was due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates today charged with attempted burglary.