A NEW £1.4million pub in Colne will be named after one of the town’s most famous sons.

Wetherspoons has announced that its new premises will be called The Wallace Hartley after the Titanic’s bandleader.

Hartley, who was born in Greenfield Road, famously instr-ucted the band to continue to play as the ship started to sink after hitting an iceberg.

The band were swept to their deaths with Hartley’s body, still dressed in his band leader uniform, being recovered two weeks later and taken back to his home town.

More than 40,000 people watched his funeral cortege on May 12 1912 - and three years later a memorial was unveiled to him in Albert Road.

Wetherspoons said that it had consulted local historians before deciding to name the pub after Hartley.

A spokesman for Wetherspoons said: “Of the 700 Wetherspoons pubs in the country, the names of almost every one of them relates to the building or history of the town.

“We contact local historians to do the groundwork and there are usually a number of different suggestions.

“We did a lot of research and even though Wallace Hartley lived 100 years ago, he is a historical figure who is well remembered in connection with the town.

“It shows we’re not a pub company that will come into a town and use a brand. We want to make a connection to the town’s history.”

The pub, which has previously been a Greek restaurant, has been extended and features a new bar on the lower ground floor and a beer garden to the rear.

It is due to open on November 28.