A SOLDIER who died in battle is finally to be honoured on his home town's cenotaph -- more than 50 years after his death.

Robert Clark was killed in 1951, in a friendly fire accident in Malaya, Singapore, but his name was never inscribed into the cenotaph in Memorial Park, Great Harwood.

Earlier this year there was uproar when cash-strapped Hyndburn Council refused to carry out the engraving, saying it was an unnecessary cost.

But the authority backed down, and the engraving was completed in July. Today the Royal British Legion will carry out a dedication ceremony to officially unveil Robert's name.

The service will feature a priest saying a few words, and a bugle playing the Last Post. The fallen soldier's family will also be present.

George Clark, Robert's brother, of Grimshaw Street, said: "We are happy but feel it has all gone on too long. I was informed by the legion that the name would go on in April, but in the end it went on in July."

When it was first revealed that the soldier's name was missing from the cenotaph, staff at Darwen Memorials offered to carry out the work for around £2 a letter, and the council agreed to look at the offer.

Richard Davies, spokesman for Great Harwood Royal British Legion, said: "All the people that gave their lives in defence of the country should be honoured. Other people have been honoured on the cenotaph and it's something that should have been done a long time ago."