A MEMORIAL service took place last night for murdered hostage Alan Henning.

His widow Barbara, and children Adam and Lucy, were due to attend the ceremony at the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Whalley Range.

The tribute was entitled His Life and Legacy Remembered and included speeches from friends of the popular 47-year-old taxi driver and also faith and political leaders.

Organisers urged the public to “join together to remember an extraordinary individual and the need to continue his legacy of humanitarian aid work”.

An Alan Henning memorial fund for his family has raised more than £25,000.

Another online fund, set up by a community group in Walkden, has raised nearly £9,000.

Mr Henning, from Eccles, had set out in a nine-strong aid convoy from Great Lever last December, but was captured in Syria by Islamic State (IS) militants while delivering food and supplies to refugees.

His death was reported on Friday, October 3 after a video showing his brutal murder was posted on the internet by the IS group.