PLANS for a memorial service for the late Barbara Castle are being discussed at Blackburn Cathedral.

The former Blackburn MP, who served the town for more than 30 years, died on Friday at her Buckinghamshire home. She was 91.

The Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, said there would be a memorial service in her honour although not until after her funeral.

Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who hailed Baroness Castle as his mentor, and Prime Minister Tony Blair will be invited.

Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, said: "My earliest memories of meeting her are of a dynamic woman who had the gift of putting across her views very, very clearly. I met her a few times and she would always love talking about Blackburn."

Councillor Salim Mulla, who is chairman of the Blackburn Interfaith Council, said: "Barbara Castle came to our house, in Lambert Street once, when she was electioneering.

"It was about 1966 and I must have only been eight or nine, and she came in for a cup of tea. I remember taking a chair outside for her and put it on the corner of the street. She stood on it and addressed the public. She was so down to earth and made a lasting impression on me.

"She was the First Lady of Blackburn."

Baroness Castle was a regular visitor to Blackburn Market when she was the town's MP.

Monica Maiden, who works at Al Orriott meat stall in Blackburn market, remembered the day when Barbara came to the stall to introduce herself.

She said: "She was outside campaigning and just came up to us to introduce herself.

"She was a lovely woman who was really easy to talk to.

Current Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "Barbara Castle was a huge figure in Blackburn and my life.

"She taught me much of what I know about the town and politics, My debt to her is immense. Watching her electioneering in the town was to see how much warmth and affection she generated."

Councillor Frank Gorton, Blackburn's longest serving councillor, said: "I knew Barbara extremely well and found her to be a wonderful person, so kind and generous.

"When I was a patient at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Barbara came to see me. I will always remember what she said. She simply said 'the poor boy.' There was something about Barbara that won the respect from everybody."

Isabel Butler, 58, was one of the many hundreds who used to leaflet for Baroness Castle around Lark Hill flats during her campaigns in the 1970s.

Mrs Butler said: "She was with the family of her sister and she told me she had nothing to eat.

"I rustled up sausages and mashed potatoes and the whole lot of them just tucked in.

"You couldn't imagine Jack Straw settling down to bangers and mash, but Barbara was different. I am very sorry she has gone."

Roy Martin was Baroness Castle's agent for more than 20 years.

He said: "She and her husband Ted never had any children and she transferred all her maternal tendencies into her pets.

"She was a wonderfully warm woman."