Fans today lined the streets of Blackpool to say their final farewells to Linda Nolan, who died last month at the age of 65, surrounded by her devoted siblings. The beloved star's funeral service was held at St Paul's Church, the same place where Linda exchanged vows with her "soulmate" husband, the late Brian Hudson, in the summer of 1981. Stars such as Shane Ritchie, Paul Chuckle and Jodie Prenger were in attendance at the service, which featured some of Linda's favourite music.

Mourners exited the church to the sound of applause as Linda's sparkly coffin was carried out of the service. In her touching eulogy, Linda's sister Denise remarked that she would have "loved all the fuss". The procession then continued to the crematorium, where white doves were released following a private committal service. On this poignant day, loved ones and fans alike celebrate Linda's "extraordinary life" in Blackpool where the Dublin-born Nolan sisters first found fame and have lived for much of their lives. Linda is said to have regarded the town as her "spiritual home".

Knowing just how much the singer, actress and Mirror columnist meant to so many, her close-knit siblings encouraged fans to show out in full force, noting that "everyone who knew Linda, or whose lives she touched, are welcome to come and pay their respects". Linda bravely planned her own funeral two years before her death, selflessly wanting to save her siblings from further heartache. And her special requests, including wanting a pink and sparkly coffin, have been honoured by her family to ensure the showbiz legend gets the perfect send-off.

As Linda's family and celebrity friends all come together to pay their respects, The Mirror brings all the latest updates from the funeral of the widely-loved star, who shared the ups and downs of her cancer journey with readers right up until her final days. Linda Nolan lived an extraordinary life filled with accomplishments and love, but she harboured one painful regret. Pop icon Linda, who rose to fame with her sisters in Irish girl group The Nolans, passed away "peacefully" last month surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 65. Linda had lived with cancer for many years, having first been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. In March 2023, it was revealed the disease had spread to her brain.

Reading a deeply personal eulogy at Linda's funeral on Saturday, her sister Denise, who had cared for Linda in her home during the final 18 months of her long battle with cancer, laughed between tears and gushed over Linda's special talent. Linda Nolan's incredible bond with children as sister Denise reveals 'regret'. It's no secret to those who knew her that Linda Nolan had an incredible sense of humour. In spite of her ongoing health struggles, Linda kept her brilliant sense of humour and ability to find joy even in her toughest moments.

Even in the last few hours of her life, she'd been "laughing and joking," her sister Denise told the Mirror. “Although the medical team had told her she had to stay quiet to let her treatment do its job. Everyone was being quietly optimistic as she’d seemed so cheerful. Then at 3.30am on Tuesday, we got the dreaded call, ‘Get to the hospital asap’.”. Linda Nolan's last laugh as she sends funeral mourners into fits of giggles.

Against the black clothes of the mourners, the fuschia pink glitter of the coffin Linda Nolan bravely chose for herself over a year ago, shone almost neon. Winter sun streamed through the stained glass of the church, as pallbearers carried her towards the altar, making it dance and dazzle like a glitterball. It was absolutely what the self-christened ‘blingiest Nolan’, the life and soul of every party, would have wanted. Only she could bring the dance floor to her own funeral.

This was the pop legend’s final curtain call . Her last, sparkling bow was a reminder to us all that a light which had shone that brightly in life could never truly be extinguished by death. Linda Nolan's funeral: Glitterball send-off for life and soul pop legend. Linda Nolan lived a fantastic life but always harboured one painful regret - not having children of her own. However, she was deeply loved by the younger members of the Nolan family, who gave her the cheeky nickname 'Aunty Ginda'.

Denise said: "She had an amazing way with children which I envied, she was like the pied piper, they were immediately drawn to her, I think a big regret was not having children of her own. "All her nieces and nephews and eventually, their children, adored her, and because she did like a Gin or two, —or three! Great niece Ava, Maureen’s oldest granddaughter christened her Aunty Ginda. Great Nephews Vinny, and Ryder AND Ava are here today.