A PENSIONER has died two weeks after he fell while travelling to Blackburn town centre on a packed bus.

Samuel Herbert Blinkhorne, 80, boarded the single decker bus in Whalley New Road, Roe Lee, on August 13 at 9.40am.

Mr Blinkhorne, of Algate Street, was forced to stand in the aisle as all the seats were taken.

Police said he fell to the floor when the Blackburn Transport bus jolted. He told the driver he was winded but felt alright.

However he took a turn for the worse two days later and was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where he stayed in intensive care for two weeks. He died on Thursday.

Police said his death was now being treated as a "fatal road traffic collision" and have launched an investigation.

People who were on the Blackburn Transport bus, travelling from the Brownhill round, are being asked to come forward.

Sergeant Mick Young, of Accrington Road Traffic Police, said: "The coroner has referred the matter to us to investigate which is why it's only just come to our attention.

"The scandal of what happened was that an 80-year-old man was stood-up on a bus.

"However after speaking to his daughter she tells me he was a very proud gentleman and even if he was offered a seat probably would not have taken it.

"After the man fell the bus driver did the sensible thing and put a report into her management so we have that.

"CCTV from the bus only tells us half a story. It is very grainy and just shows him falling so we are urging anybody who was on the bus at the time to get in contact to help with the investigation."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.