CANDLES were lit last night in memory of a fallen East Lancashire soldier ahead of his full military funeral this morning.

People visited All Saints Church in Earby to pay their silent respects to Lance Corporal Jordan Bancroft, 25, from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

He died in a gun fight in Helmand, Afghanistan, on August 21 and was repatriated back to Britain a week later.

Tearful friends and relatives were invited to sign a book of remembrance which will be passed to his parents.

Church warden Vera Cocker, 65, said more than 60 local residents had lit candles in the first hour.

She said: “I’ve said a little prayer myself. People are sitting in church and spending a few quiet moments in prayer.

“We feel privileged to be holding the funeral here. Everyone has pulled together to try and help the family.”

Roy Barnes, deputy head at West Craven Technology College where L/Cpl Bancroft was a pupil, said students would be lining the streets as the funeral cortege passed.

“Most staff are not able to go to the funeral so we thought it was only right to come and pay our respects.”

Rev Hugh Fielden said: “People were able to come in and simply light a candle and sign a book of remembrance.

“The idea was because not everybody could get to the funeral.

"People could use the time - whether it’s 30 minutes or 30 seconds - and space to say goodbye and think about how they feel.

“It was brutal news when it came through of Lance Corporal Bancroft’s death, almost a physical blow.

"Earby is such a close community the grief touched everybody.”

The military funeral takes place today at 11am at All Saints Church, in Earby.