A COMMUNITY stalwart is set to be honoured with a memorial plaque on a village bench.

Roy Hargreaves was well known across Huncoat for his love of litter picking before he died in the summer aged 77.

Huncoat Community Forum said it will fund a memorial plaque on a bench in the Peace Garden to remember him.

Funding for the plaque was matched by Accrington county councillors Lorraine Cox and Bernard Dawson.

Forum member Dave Parkins said it is a fitting tribute to a man he considered 'a friend'.

The former councillor first met Mr Hargreaves when he was working at Calderstones many years ago.

He said: “It was a great shame when we heard Roy has passed away.

“He was always seen around the village doing his litter picking with his cart and fluorescent jacket on.

“He was just so happy doing that.

“He really was a great man, he was a true gent.

“I really appreciated everything he did, he was just making the community better in his own little way.”

Lower Gate Road, Station Road and Burnley Road were sites where Mr Hargreaves was often seen litter picking.

Mr Hargreaves was a big Burnley fan and the plaque is set to be installed once it has returned form the engravers.