A VETERAN minister from Burnley whose 'dedication' as a parish priest and generosity of spirit as a father, grandfather and brother shone through has died at the age of 73.

Tributes have flooded in for the Rev Lawrence Laycock, who lost a brave battle with cancer on Monday and had touched hundreds of lives across the borough during a 26-year career in the church.

He was a stalwart figure at both St John the Evangelist at Worsthorne and St John the Divine at Cliviger for a number of years, before becoming the 'house for duty priest' at St Stephen's Burnley Wood and St Peter's in semi-retirement.

Bishop of Burnley, the Right Rev Philip North, and longstanding friend, Rev Roger Parker, of St Catherine's, were with Rev Laycock and wife Beverley to conduct final prayers before he passed away.

His eldest daughter Jane Mitchell said: "He was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago and made a miraculous recovery, and went back to work even though he was 70.

"But three or four weeks ago we were told that it had returned and it was quite quick at the end. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother and a much-loved priest and friend to many."

An ex-Barden High student, he worked as a joiner until 1989, when he was ordained and initially served at St Michael & All Angels Church at Blackpool.

Rev Parker, who was the minister's next-door neighbour for seven years, added: "He was a lovely man, a good, hardworking and dedicated priest and a wonderful father and grandfather.

"He was a carpenter, a profession he shared with Our Lord, and he did a number of pieces of work for me at St Catherine's."

Rev Patrick Senior, who he worked with for the united benefice of St Peter's and St Stephen's, said: "He was a real gentle man - so laidback and a joy to work with in the short time I have been here."

Former Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "He has always been much loved and respected priest and will be very much sadly missed by very many people. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Beverley and all his family."

The Labour political figure had worked closely with the priest to establish an Emmaus community for the homeless in Burnley, establishing a steering committee which would eventually result in a centre being opened at Booth Court.

The Bishop of Burnley and Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Rev Julian Henderson, will officiate at Rev Laycock's funeral, which will take place at St Stephen's next Wednesday, at 10am, before burial at St John's Worsthorne.