A FORMER teacher who influenced the lives of thousands of schoolchildren in Preston and South Ribble has died after a long battle with cancer.

Leo Warren, 67, a teacher and vice-principal at Cardinal Newman College, formerly known as Preston Catholic College, was involved in education for 39 years.

He died on November 12 and hundreds of people, including priests from across the county, are expected to attend a requiem mass tonight (November 18) at St Wilfrid's Church, Chapel Street, at 7.15pm. A private funeral service will take place there tomorrow (Friday).

Mr Warren joined the Catholic college as a history teacher in 1960 and later became vice-principal and a governor, before retiring in 1999.

John Cowdall, a friend and chairman of the college's governing body, said: "He was a first class teacher, but was also a friend for the kids and for the staff. He was of the old school and with an immense knowledge.

"Leo had a great impact on all the students he taught and has helped to shape and mould the futures of many of them.

"He was quite an eccentric man and many people will remember him for his duffle coat and his dog that would follow him everywhere.

"He was so considerate even to the point where he planned his own funeral. He wanted it to be at night so the teachers didn't need to take any time off work and so no one would have to pay for parking on Winckley Square."

Mr Warren's twin sister Frances Britnell, of Accrington, said she and her husband Jeff and daughters Ursula and Anita were going to miss him.

"He was a lovely brother and looked after our mum and dad until they died and doted on his nieces," she said.

Mr Warren, who lived in Accrington, wrote books on Lancashire churches, including St Wilfrid's where he was master of ceremonies in charge of arranging mass.

Brother Vincent McArdle, of St Wilfrid's, said: "He always did a great job and was an asset to the church. We know a lot of people will come to the funeral and that is a tribute to the kind of person he was."

Former student Mike Dawber of Chorley said: "I will always remember his lessons because they were always good fun. He was a real character and was so enthusiastic.

"He made history sound exciting and it was mainly due to him that I went on to study it at university so I will always be grateful to him for that."

Mr Warren had fought cancer for more than seven years. He had been in remission when his condition deteriorated and he died in Park Lee Hospital, Blackburn.