oTHE ashes of a football legend are set to be the latest East Lancashire contribution to The National Football Museum in Preston.

Tommy Lawton, who began his professional career with Burnley after a spell with Rossendale United, played 390 games between 1936 and 1956, scored 231 goals.

He was one of the most prolific natural goal scorers the game has ever seen.

The National Football Museum is due to receive the ashes of the former Burnley, Everton, Chelsea, Notts County, Arsenal and England centre-forward next week.

His son, Tommy Jnr, the current custodian of the ashes, made the plea that they should be displayed at the museum.

Tommy Jnr, who lives in Liverpool, said: "I realise this is somewhat unusual but I genuinely feel that this is the right place for my father.

"The museum have showed a great deal of sensitivity and compassion in dealing with my request. I fully understand and agree with them as to the reasons why they have allowed me to place my father's ashes within the museum."

Tommy Lawton signed for Burnley on October 6, 1936, and scored his first goals for the club at Swansea, a week after his debut.

On New Year's Day, 1937, Everton paid £6,500 to take the young star to Goodison Park where he formed a partnership with and then eventually replaced the legendary Dixie Dean.

The ashes, however, will not be the only exhibit with an East Lancashire connection.

Medals, shirts, caps and badges belonging to the Blackburn Rovers legend Bob Crompton sit alongside a stretcher from Accrington Stanley and a display of items from Burnley's 1914 FA Cup victory. The decision to donate the ashes to the museum was taken after the family grew concerned about the future of Goodison.

Everton have submitted a planning application to build a new stadium away from the ground, which could be redeveloped.

Mark Bushell from the museum said: "When I contacted Tommy's son to inform him that his father had been voted into The National Football Museum's Hall of Fame, I was taken aback when he asked me if his father's ashes could be placed within the museum."