THE ashes of a war widow have been delivered to the Falklands by singer Aled Jones so they can be scattered in the sea where her husband died during the conflict.

The former choirboy, who found fame with the song Walking in the Air, has taken the ashes of Anita Flanagan to the South Atlantic, where Oswaldtwistle-born Edmund was killed, after reading an appeal in a national newspaper.

They will be delivered to the exact spot where Edmund died, as soon as the Fisheries Commission can arrange for a boat to go there. Then the captain will scatter the ashes.

Until then the ashes are with the island vicar, the Rev McHaffie.

The couple's daughter Cassandra Flanagan, of Elford, Kent, placed a newspaper appeal after the death of her mother in August, asking for someone to take the ashes in order to grant her mother's wishes.

Aled Jones' record company then got in touch to say Mr Jones was filming a special episode of Songs of Praise near to the islands last month.

Mr Jones said: "I felt privileged to be able to use my trip to the Falklands to assist the couple's daughter Cassie in her quest to fulfil her mother's dying wish.

"If it lessens the pain I feel privileged to be in a position where I can help."

Miss Flanagan, 29, said: "She wanted her ashes scattered over the Falklands and I think she would be very happy that her wish is being granted.

"It wouldn't have mattered if it had been Joe Bloggs from around the corner who did it, but she liked Songs of Praise so I think she would be pleased that Aled Jones took them for her.

"I am going to write to him and thank him for what he has done."

Chief petty officer Edmund Flanagan was born in Oswaldtwistle and grew up in Worcester Avenue, Accrington.

He was killed in May 1982 when a missile hit his ship.