HUNDREDS of mourners said a final goodbye at the funeral of a popular priest, who died last week.

Fr Patrick Bourke, 66, who had been parish priest at St Mary's RC Church, Oswaldtwistle, for the last 24 years, died while on holiday in the Lake District.

Every bench in the church was full and members of the congregation spilt out into the porch for yesterday's service.

The funeral was attended by 40 priests from across the Salford Diocese The Rt Rev Terence Brain, Bishop of Salford, led the service and paid tribute to a "quiet, generous man".

"I remember him as a good trooper," said Bishop Brain. "Whatever you asked him to do, he would do it - he was a very faithful man."

Children from St Mary's RC Primary read prayers for Fr Bourke thanking him for his contribution to their school.

"He came to our school every Tuesday to do a mass and he never missed one," said Year 5 pupil Rachel Power.

Jessica Keenan, Year 4, said: "We were the last class to receive our first Holy Communion from Fr Bourke and we're going to miss him now he's gone."

Parishioner John Burgoyne, 59, of Oswald Street, Accrington, said: "Father was a cordial and courteous person.

"He was an excellent and inspirational preacher."