THE long-term girlfriend of a busker, songwriter and poet, who died recently has thanked his friends for their fundraising efforts.

More than £700 was collected following the death of John Gilroy, known as John Jellyhead, of Castle Street, The Haulgh, who died of an illness at the Royal Bolton Hospital, aged 46.

His girlfriend Lynn Collier, with whom he performed in the group "The Jellyheads", appealed for help to enable their daughter Sarah to fly from the USA to attend his funeral.

The burial will take place in John's native London, on September 30, at Streatham Park Cemetery, Rowan Road, at 2pm.

Lynn said she wanted the thank the large number of people who attended the celebration of John's life, which was held at the Man and Scythe pub, in Churchgate, Bolton on Sunday.

She said: "An incredible amount of people attended the event, and it was an overwhelming display of how well liked he was. It was very moving. All I can say is a huge thank you to everyone for this, and for the staggering amount of money that was raised."