WREATHS will be laid on behalf of three East Lancashire families who lost a loved one in the First World War.

The ceremonies follow an appeal in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Haslingden Army Cadets asked for help in tracing relatives of soldiers who fell in France and Belgium so that they could pay their respects during a visit to The Somme and Ypres Salient next month.

Just 24 hours after the story appeared, three people got in touch with the detachment.

A memorial wreath will be laid for Margaret Howley from Great Harwood, the daughter in law of Sgt Herbert Howley.

He served with the Accrington Pals and died aged 32 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Another will be laid for Albert Uttley, 85, of Monmouthshire, the youngest brother of private Richard Uttley of Crawshawbooth, also an Accrington Pal who was killed when he was just 22 .

And Hilda Birtwhistle of Lacey Court, Haslingden, wants a wreath laying for her relative Jim Tomlinson, 26, who served with the 2nd Grenadiers.

Detachment commander Lt Martin Frankcom said: "We were delighted with the response. Everybody is getting excited about the visit but this is of course tinged with sadness, for before the cadets even tread on Belgian or French soil they cadets aware of the senseless loss of our nation's youth 80 years ago."

Anybody else who would like to recruit the services of the cadets should call at The Drill Hall, Bury Road, Haslingden on Monday and Thursday evenings between 7pm and 9.30pm.

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