An elderly man having a meal with his family at a Stevenage Old Town pub died after collapsing suddenly yesterday afternoon.

Staff called the ambulance service to The Standing Order Wetherspoon pub in the High Street at 2.16pm after the regular customer, believed to be in his 80s, collapsed suddenly while having a meal with his family.

An ambulance crew and rapid response team arrived within six minutes and treated him for head injuries. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics, the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were summoned just after 4.55pm to assist. A police spokeswoman said the incident is not being treated as suspicious and has been passed over to the coroner.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the gentleman at this sad time.”