POLITICAL dignitaries are expected to flock to Roughlee today to celebrate the life of the late Len Dole.

The campaigner's ashes will be laid to rest in a separate family ceremony at Clarion House, which was one of several built by the Independent Labour Party as country retreats.

Len, who died in January aged 85, was a lifelong socialist and one of the borough's most popular political figures.

Veteran campaigner Tony Benn was among the hundreds to offer his condolences.

Len was a member of the Labour Party for 70 years, acting as a party agent for 33 years for MPs including Sydney Silverman and Gordon Prentice, before resigning in March last year over the war in Iraq.

He was married to wife Betty, a former councillor and magistrate, for 64 years and had two children, Janet and Len.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice is expected to speak at today's event alongside Lord Hoyle of Warrington and members of Mr Silverman's family.

Betty, 82, said: "I think tomorrow will be a good day. It's what Len would have wanted."

Len, a life member of the Transport and General Workers' Union, had been chair of Pendle Trades Council, served on the Co-op regional board and helped set up a charity, the District Children's Christmas Appeal.

Mr Prentice added: "Len lived his whole life round an ideal - that doing things collectively was the best way forward."