THE funeral of Mrs Alison Cross, MBE, who died in a house fire, will take place on Wednesday.

A requiem mass will be held at St Josephs RC Church in Peter Street, Bury, at 9.30am followed by committal at Overdale Crematorium. Mrs Cross, formerly known as Alison Thomason, was instrumental in setting up the Ring-and-Ride and Shopmobility schemes for disabled people in Bury.

She was pronounced dead at Fairfield General Hospital a week last Friday after fire fighters pulled her from her flame and smoke-filled home in Springside Road, Walmersley.

The 53-year-olds family have asked that, instead of flowers, mourners donate to the Multiple Sclerosis Society charity, care of Hamers Funeral Service in Walmersley Road, Bury.