TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular barber who worked in a town for more than 30 years.

Jack Thornton ran two barber shops in Clayton-le-Moors for most of his working life and was also well-known for being a member of the All Saints Church choir for 80 years.

Coun Tim O’Kane said the entire town would miss Mr Thornton. He said: “Jack will be whole-heartedly missed by all who knew him.

“Like most men in Clayton-le-Moors, Jack or his apprentice Norman have cut my hair for the best part of 50 years.

“He was a lovely man who was really liked by the whole community.” Mr Thornton, of Lynwood Road, Accrington, died on April 5, aged 88.

The grandfather also helped found the former Clayton-le-Moors Civic Society with his wife Alice during the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr Thornton, a former president of the Accrington Clef Club, became an apprentice hairdresser at the age of 14 before going on to own two shops in Barnes Street and Whalley Road.

The father of two’s former apprentice, Norman, took over the business in Whalley Road when he retired.

A sign on the door of the barber’s shop announcing its closure for Mr Thornton’s funeral has been causing a stir after people mistakenly thought the shop was closing to mark the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Coun O’Kane said: “A notice placed in the window of Norman’s barber’s shop has been a real talking point in the community. Those who didn’t know Jack had died thought the shop was closing as a sign of respect for Margaret Thatcher.

“I am sure there will be a really big turn-out at his send-off.”

Mr Thornton was well-known for his no-nonsense traditional approach to hairdressing.

In one tribute posted on Facebook, John Brindle said: “Jack was a legend on Barnes Street back in the 1970s.

“And it’s been brilliant that Norman carried on the, shall we say, no-nonsense tradition. Proper chap. RIP.”

His funeral will take place on Wednesday at All Saints Church, at 11.45am.

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