A MAN who attacked and killed his neighbour after losing his temper is awaiting sentence after admitting manslaughter.

And today police revealed that although Ian Wright did not mean to kill popular sportsman Andrew Gordon - who suffered a fractured skull after being pushed to the floor - he had to accept he was responsible for the death.

Andrew worked at Mania Technologies on Carrs Industrial Estate, Haslingden.

At Preston Crown Court Wright, 21, of Acre View, Stacksteads, admitted the manslaughter of his neighbour Mr Gordon, 34, also of Acre View who died on October 26 from head injuries he suffered in "a dispute which got out of hand" four days earlier. Police said he had been at Wright's home when there was an argument and Wright ejected Mr Gordon from the house.

A detective involved in the case said: "They were acquaintances. These two men knew each other before this, there was no on-going dispute. There is no doubt in my mind that Wright did not intend to cause the death of Mr Gordon.

"It was a small dispute which got out of hand, we will probably never know the full background to it.

"When Wright ejected Mr Gordon from the house he should have left it there but he kept hitting or pushing him, whatever, and that led to Mr Gordon falling and hitting his head." Wright was described by the detective as "an angry guy and in a temper."

He said: "Wright did not mean to kill him, it was just one of those things, but he accepted that it was his actions that led to the death of Mr Gordon.

"It is a tragic incident for both parties and tragic that someone died from it."

Wright and his family all lived locally, but they have moved from the area.

Wright had been due to stand trial but changed his plea at Preston Crown Court yesterday. Defence barrister Keith Harrison asked for the case to be adjourned for reports. Wright, who has no previous convictions, was remanded on conditional bail, to July 6 by Judge Peter Openshaw QC.

Mr Gordon's family declined to comment about the case.