Hundreds likely to attend war veteran's funeral

The funeral of a Second World War veteran has been attended by hundreds of people - most of whom never even knew him.

Funeral directors in St Annes in Lancashire posted a message in their local newspaper when they were informed of the death of Harold Jellicoe Percival.

Harold had died in a nursing home. His only family lived many miles away.

But when news of his death spread to the internet, something remarkable happened.

Our correspondent Matt O'Donoghue reports.

Harold Jellicoe Percival died aged 99 without close friends or relatives at hand at a nursing home, where staff worried no one would be at his funeral to mark his passing.

Group Captain Bob Kemp from the RAF Benevolent Fund says he's heartened by level of support at today's funeral. He tells ITV News how Harold 'Coe' Percival's served with Bomber Command during the historic Dambusters raid.

A war veteran who died with no close friends or relatives has been given a fitting send-off today, after an internet campaign driven by media coverage saw hundreds of people pledge to attend. Click here for more.

Hundreds of people have turned up for the funeral of a war veteran they never knew on Armistice Day, after it emerged he died with no close friends or relatives. Harold Jellicoe Percival, died last month aged 99 in a nursing home.