A YEAR on from the tragic death of poet and raconteur Len Saunders, his family have paid tribute to the 'kind soul' and the legacy he has left behind.

Known to some as 'Len Banana', the 65-year-old community cinema volunteer died in hospital on Sunday, July 30 2017 - nine days after he was attacked on Ward Street because he did not give a 17-year-old drunken yob a cigarette.

Following his death, the community of St Helens - which he did a lot to support in his life - came together to raise more than £2,800 in his memory towards disabled access to Lucem House Community Cinema - of which he was a steward.

Now exactly a year to the day that Len died, his proud niece Heba Soliman wants to let those who donated know what legacy they helped to create in his memory.

She said: "Knowing that Len is remembered by so many and in the things done in his memory does make things easier.

"The money donated has so far paid for a disabled ramp on the cinema in his memory but they are just waiting for further permission from the Magistrates' Court to do further work.

"Also, as Len was an artist himself and a poet, a writing room has been opened at the back of the cinema in his name where people can come to do arts and write and have a space dedicated to that - many people have already rented out the space which is amazing for us.

"What has been particularly special is that one of Len's organ recipients has written to us to thank us for doing that on his behalf, as after he died he donated both kidneys and his liver.

"That's so special to us and we are going to a ceremony at the Walton Centre soon to see Len's name be put on the special tree there with donors' names.

"It's great that we can remember him in a positive way and that his name and part of him lives on."