A FAMILY is preparing to say goodbye to much-loved Paul Birchall, who died after collapsing in Ibiza Airport last month.

The service for Mr Birchall, from Farnworth, will be at Our Lady of Lourdes in Plodder Lane at 11.45am on Friday.

It will come nearly a month after the father-of-two arrived on the Balearic island for a stag party on June 15 when he reportedly collapsed inside the island’s transport hub after flying in from Manchester for a stag do.

Mr Birchall’s sister, Vivienne Birchall, said there will be a pigeon release after the service at Farnworth Cemetery and friends will wear Bolton Wanderers shirts.

She said: “All the lads are going to wear Bolton Wanderers tops and some of the family will be as well.

“His work colleagues will be driving Paul’s van and we’re going to put banners on it and his photograph.

“He was a big pigeon fancier and he used to raise them. He had them for a long, long time so we are having a pigeon made out of flowers for him and we will release some pigeons at the cemetery.

“Everybody will be welcome because a lot of people knew Paul. He was very shy but he had a million nicknames.”

Mr Birchall left behind his daughter Jamie, aged 26, and son Christopher, aged 24, as well as his mother Eileen Birchall, aged 72.

The 51-year-old was the oldest of four siblings, including Vivienne, Julie Birchall, Michael Birchall and Sandra Birchall.

He was an employee of George Coxes and Sons, based in Farnworth, for 20 years.