FLORAL tributes bore testament to a family's love of a frail pensioner who died after being attacked by a teenage burglar.

The funeral of Albert Hazzleton, aged 92, took place yesterday morning.

Mr Hazzleton died last week after being punched in the head.

He had disturbed the young thug -- thought to be aged between 14 and 16 -- in his Deane home.

A post mortem examination revealed the elderly man had died of natural causes and had a pre-existing heart condition.

But devastated relatives who gathered at Overdale Crematorium, off Chorley New Road, believe he would still have been alive if it had not been for the attack.

They hope the thug responsible for the attack will look at the pictures of floral tributes to 'Big Uncle Albert' which appear in the Bolton Evening News and turn himself in.

His niece Marlene Williams, of the Haulgh, said: "If anyone who sees these pictures has a conscience, they will either contact the police or at the least never do anything like this again.

"Whoever did this needs to realise that a man is dead.

"My mother has been ill and I have also been ill and it's all because of this one thing.

"Uncle Albert was such a lovely man and a real gentleman."

Mr Hazzleton was found on his hands and knees in the front garden of his Lindrick Terrace home following the Good Friday attack.

The Rev Steve Abram, of St George the Martyr church in Deane officiated at Mr Hazzleton's funeral and told mourners of the drug-related Crime his parishioners fear.

After the service, he insisted the sermon had also been a celebration of Mr Hazzleton's life.

He said: "The violence that was done in the invasion of Albert's house shouldn't cloud the celebration of a man's life.

"It was a life that was rich in every way and Albert was a true gentleman."

Bolton CID continue to probe the attack.

DC Bill McGreavy said: "Now Mr Hazzleton has been laid to rest, we are appealing to people in Deane for help.

"We feel the offender lives locally and somebody must be sheltering him."

Mr Hazzleton's attacker is described as white, aged 14 to 16, 5ft 5ins tall with a round face, small eyes and sandy coloured or blonde hair.

He wore a red and blue baseball cap, blue fleece jacket, blue tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

Anyone with information about the attack at 2.45pm on April 13 is urged to contact Bolton Central CID on 0161 856 5640 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.