A keen angler, James Lee died while on a fishing trip.

Because of the number of people expected to attend his funeral, a request to close part of Church Road, to avoid congestion, has been submitted to the police.

The funeral service will be held at St Cuthbert's Church, starting at 1.30pm, followed by family burial.

James met his wife Sylvie, 56, who is from Nancy in France, when she came over to Lytham as an au pair to his family in 1971. She was 19 and James was 21.

They fell in love, married in France and set up home in Tewkesbury Drive, Lytham, where they lived happily for 34 years.

Their sons Ben, 29, and Christian, 24, and their partners Charlotte and Shelley, live in Lytham and Warton, respectively.

James also leaves a brother, Raymond, and sister, Janet.

James loved Lytham and had a collection of postcards, pictures and newspaper cuttings relating to the town.

Sylvie has received hundreds of cards, letters and messages, many of which are from Preston Prison inmates.

"James had a really good relationship with the staff and the prisoners at Preston and I have been really touched by all of their messages," said Sylvie, who has been a French language teacher at Blackpool and the Fylde College for 21 years, and recently received her long-service award.

"One of the letters from an inmate referred to a 'golden heart which stopped beating'. I was so moved by these words," added Sylvie.