Residents have spoken of their shock after their neighbour plunged to his death from a Colne railway viaduct on Sunday.
Ronald Driver, a former Colne Park High School student, was found in Knotts Lane at around 9-50pm.
His death is not being treated as suspicious by police.
The 63-year-old, who was known to his friends as Driz, was said to have been struggling since the death of his wife Margaret, who lost her 12-month battle with cancer in March.
Philip Durkin (63), who had known Mr Driver for 45 years, and who lives in the opposite flat in Peel Road, said: “He used to come up to see me when his wife died, and we would have chats.
“He and Margaret used to do everything together. They got married young and had two lads together.”
Mr Durkin added that he had seen Mr Driver at around 4pm on Sunday, having just returned from a holiday in Wales.
He said: “I had packed my keys in my luggage, and Ronnie had a spare key for my flat, so I got the key off him, and we were laughing.
“He seemed alright. He just wanted a wash and a shave.”
Emergency services attended the scene shortly before 10pm.
Knotts Lane was closed for a couple of hours, and trains were resumed at around 11-30pm.
James Dooney, who also lives in Knotts Lane, but who did not know Mr Driver personally, described how he became aware of the incident after seeing police activity across the road.
The 62-year-old and his wife Bernadette had just been visited by a family member, who was staying in a guest house nearby.
Mr Dooney added: “At the back end of Sunday, I said that something was going on.
“It is very distressing. I knew something tragic had happened, but I didn’t know what it was.
“This was the last thing I expected to hear.”
