Charles Power once helped to start a project aimed at keeping young people in Ingol out of an increasing spiral of crime and drug use – but was better known for his own criminality.

The 59-year-old had more than 60 offences on his record stretching back to 1966 and was a well-known character in the Ingol and Tanterton areas of the city.

The dad-of-six, known as Charlie to his relatives, is expected to have a traditional Irish funeral with a horse and cart.

His ex-wife Pat Power, children Donna, Tara, Lisa, Darren and Tyrone and several grandchildren are said to be being comforted by relatives who have travelled from Ireland.

Charles lived on Lyndhurst Drive, Savick, but treated the family home on New Rough Hey, Ingol, as his second home.

Earlier this year he was banned from those areas by a two-year anti-social behaviour injunction (ASBI).

He collapsed in West Park Avenue, Savick, on October 1, from a suspected heart attack.

Originally from Southern Ireland, Mr Power previously told the LEP he moved to Preston "during hard times".

His daughter Tara, 23, paid tribute to her dad: "He was a rebel but did have another side that many of his close friends and family members saw.

"A lot of people respected him for the way my dad was and a lot of people don't take that into consideration.

"He raised the Intag (Ingol and Tanterton Action Group) group on his own and was the founder of that community.

"He raised children in the area with his co-workers and did a good job and wasn't paid for that.

"It was voluntary and he did it throughout his life. He also set up football teams with the community bobbies.

"Obviously, he will be much missed. He was a larger than life character and he always wanted to put others first."

In the 1990s we reported how Charles worked for three years helping set up Intag, a community action group involving churches, schools, social workers and residents.

Mr Power got together with a group of residents who decided more facilities were needed in the area.

But over the next few years his own intimidating behaviour led to North British Housing applying for an eviction order on his family.

In 2006 Home Office minister Hazel Blears took the unusual step of asking the Attorney General and Lord Chancellor to investigate ways to evict the family from their home after they managed to overturn a bid by North British Housing to evict them.

Earlier this year an ASBI was served on him banning him from entering the Ingol and Tanterton areas until April 4, 2010, and from carrying out anti-social behaviour, and causing a nuisance or annoyance to those living in New Rough Hey, Ingol.

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