The funeral details of an East Lancashire dad who was killed in the Ukraine war have been revealed by his family.

Great Harwood’s Simon Lingard, also known as Grimmy, died on Monday, November 7, while helping to defend Ukraine from Russian invasion.

Those wishing to pay their respects to Simon, who lived in Blackburn for a time, have been asked to attend the funeral service at St Bartholomew’s Church in Great Harwood on Friday, December 16, at 1pm.

This will be followed by a funeral reception at Rendezvous Nightclub, also known as Rios, in Whalley at around 4pm.

Simon’s ex-wife Stacey Longworth, from Blackburn, said more than 400 people are expected to attend and it was a struggle to find a venue that was large enough to accommodate everyone.

She said: “Everyone has been eager to pay their respects. My phone has been going off constantly.

“I am overwhelmed at just how many people respected and loved him.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Simon LingardSimon Lingard (Image: Stacey Longworth)

Stacey said Simon, who served as a paratrooper for several years, will get the “send-off he deserves” thanks to the £31,979 that has been donated to their GoFundMe.

Stacey said: “As you can imagine it has cost quite a few thousand pounds to be able to do this.

“It was so amazing to be able to raise that much money. It will cover the whole funeral with no expenses spared.

“It is fantastic to be able to give him the send-off he deserves. Without that money we would have struggled as we have just moved house.

“Simon deserves the best and I am just so happy that we can give it to him.”

The money left over will put in a bank account for his children, Jackson, 17, and Keane, 13.

Stacey said: “Simon isn’t here anymore to support them, so it’s amazing that they will have some money for when they turn 18. It’s what Simon would have wanted.

“The kids can’t believe how much their dad was loved. They are so shocked at how much money has been sent in and how many well wished have been sent.

“They’re ridiculously proud.

“Simon was one of a kind and there was no-one else quite like him, apart from his son Keane who is just a mini version of him.”