A MEMORIAL is being planned for a woman who helped create Darwen's Ashton Park.

Valerie Hull, 60, of Ashton Road, died on Monday after suffering heart failure at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

But her family want her memory and the work she did to create the park to live on - and they are planning eventually to plant a tree for her in the town's Eastern Cemetery.

Valerie and her husband, Frank, pushed for the creation of Ashton Park more than 26 years ago because there was no play area for children.

The site of the park was overgrown and being considered for business use, so they, along with other residents, started a petition to save the land.

Frank is now chairman of the Friends of Ashton Park group, which monitors the maintenance of the park and raises money for its upkeep.

Valerie, who leaves five children and 11 grandchildren, also spent much time raising money for the park and other good causes, including the baby care unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Frank said: "She was well-known in Darwen because of her work with Ashton Park.

"But she would also be recognised from her time on the CB radio station at Bogarts in Darwen in the 1980s.

"She regularly took part on a float in Darwen Gala and we did lots of sponsored walks and other fundraising events.

"It would have been nice to plant a tree for her in Ashton Park but it is open to vandalism which we wouldn't want to happen."

Valerie, formerly a cleaner at Bronze Powders, Darwen, suffered from emphysema and had been in hospital for three weeks.

The funeral cortege will leave from Valerie's home on Monday for a 2.30pm service at Pleasington Crematorium.

Her family plan to have her ashes interred at the Eastern Cemetery, in Darwen.