The judge who presided over the case of a woman who was murdered in Bacup left money in his will to a foundation set up in her memory.

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation was established after the 20-year-old was murdered in the town in 2007.

Announcing the news on social media, the foundation said that Judge Anthony Russell QC left £5,000 to the foundation in his will.

Sophie died in hospital almost two weeks after she was attacked in Stubbylee Park while trying to protect her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21, from being attacked by two teenagers.

Brendan Harris, 15, and Ryan Herbert, 16, were jailed for life for Sophie’s murder by Judge Harris at Preston Crown Court in 2008.

The foundation also shared that when Sophie’s mother Sylvia died in 2022, they received some “very thoughtful correspondence” from Judge Russell.

In a Facebook post, the foundation said: “His Honour Anthony Russell QC, who presided over Sophie’s murder trial in 2008, passed away last summer and left a legacy of £5,000 to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in his will.

“When Sylvia died in 2022, we had some very thoughtful correspondence from Judge Russell, which included his memories of Sylvia and the trial.

“Sylvia was forever grateful to Judge Russell for recognising Sophie’s murder as a hate crime and sentencing accordingly. He stated very clearly that no change in the law was needed to recognise alternative subculture hate crime and this recognition of an unmonitored strand of hate crime meant the world to Sylvia.

“Judge Russell’s legacy reflects his belief in the work that we do and we are honoured to have been remembered in this way.

“There’s no more fitting way to end this than with the tribute Judge Russell wrote about Sylvia and we have included it again today. His personal qualities shine through in his writing. We owe him our thanks for so much. May he rest in peace.”