AN East Lancashire soldier whose remains were found in Belgium last year is to be given a full military funeral - almost a century after his death.

The remains of Private Richard Lancaster - killed three months after the outbreak of the war -were found by two French amateur archaeologists at the scene of a battle near Ypres last summer.

Grandaughter Doreen Grimshaw, of Sherfin, near Rising Bridge, had given up hope her that the body would be found, but will now travel to Belgium in July where a full military funeral will be held.

Final arrangements are being made for the event, which will also honour two other soldiers found by the archaeologists. was killed three months after the outbreak of the First World War.

Pte Lancaster, 31, fought with the Royal Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, and is believed to have links with Clayton-le-Moors, Burnley and Nelson.

He was killed on November 10 1914 and was identified by his mental dog tag' which was badly eroded but showed his regiment number -8372.

His ammunition pouches, cap badge and scabbard were also found.

Mrs Grimshaw said: "I couldn't believe it at first. I didn't think he was ever going to be found at all, with all the thousands of people who died there. It is phenomenal really. I would definitely go, quite a few members of the family would want to. He is thought of as a hero in the family."

The military funeral also means Pte Lancaster's name will be removed from the memorial plaque at Ploegsteert where the names of over 11,000 missing soldiers are listed.

Mrs Grimshaw's late father, William, was just four when Pte Lancaster was killed attacking German troops in woodland.