A MEMORIAL plaque set into the wall of five new bungalows in Colne has been dedicated to the town's legendary Titanic bandmaster, Wallace Hartley.

The one and two-bedroomed properties in Lancaster Street were officially opened by the Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Ian Gilhespy (pictured), who revealed a memorial stone featuring bars of music and the lines 'Nearer my God to thee, Nearer to Thee.'

It also dedicated the buildings to Wallace H. Hartley, who is buried in Colne Cemetery.

Darran Ward, a Colne librarian and expert on Wallace Hartley and the Titanic, made a small speech in his honour.

He said: "I think if Wallace was around today he would be touched, amazed and startled at all the attention his name has caused, but proud of the efforts and great lengths this town has gone to keep his memory alive.

"He is still a key figure in this town and just as he was remembered in 1912, he is still remembered here today with the unveiling of the memorial stone."

Local historian Jack Greenwood said: "I'd just like to say that Wallace is one of our best heroes, but not the greatest. We only have to go down to the Cenotaph to know that."

Darran added: "In years to come, the people living here will be shocked at the amount of people who will come here to take photographs of the plaque."

Wallace earned worldwide recognition when he led his band to calm passengers as the luxury Titanic liner sank after hitting an iceberg in April 1912.

The band gave up their chance to escape the liner on a lifeboat and none of the band members survived.

Large crowds lined the main street through Colne to watch his funeral procession to Colne Cemetery.

The town has a memorial to him next to Colne Municipal Hall and a private fund was set up to help cover the cost of restoring his gravestone this year.