A POPULAR and well-known character who campaigned for his neighbourhood has died, aged 83.

Leslie Burrows, who was known locally as Les, died peacefully in his sleep after battling against a number of illnesses including cancer of the oesophagus.

A vocal campaigner, Les of Bonsall Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, was known for voicing his opinion in letters he sent to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

He was always keen to promote a positive attitude of the area as a strong community and not the run-down area he thought it was often portrayed as.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn was among those who paid tribute to Les, whom he had known for "a great many years".

Lord Taylor said: "He was a real character who had views on everything and would support many causes." A painter and decorator, Les was born in Chester on October 20, 1918, but lived most of his life in Mill Hill.

Like many from the area at the time, his childhood was described as "difficult" and especially when he attended Blackburn's Ragged School.

In the Second World War he was active in Africa and Italy, including the great battle of Monte Cassino that led to the eventual capture of Rome in 1944.

Late in the war, he suffered blast wounds to both legs and afterwards had to use callipers.

As a war pensioner, he was proud to have served his country but shunned praise, having seen men, whom he considered to be the real heroes, fall in combat.

He figured prominently in local Remembrance Day ceremonies, despite his considerable infirmities.

During the war, Les mastered foreign languages, including German, French, Russian, Italian and Greek.

He later worked at Chapman Paper Mills, Darwen, where he retired in the 1980s.

Les will be buried at Pleasington Cemetery alongside his wife, Theresa, who died of breast cancer aged 57 in 1984. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 13, at St Barnabas Church, Blackburn, before the funeral.