AN ex-sailor walked in the footsteps of his Bolton uncle yesterday on the 85th anniversary of his death in battle.

Alan Markland visited the site in Gallipoli where his uncle Harold Greenhalgh is believed to have fallen during fierce fighting during the First World War.

Mr Markland, from Appley Bridge in Wigan, has made the pilgrimage to pay his respects to Mr Greenhalgh, who came from Dimple, Egerton.

During his trip to the Gallipoli peninsular in Turkey Mr Markland is also attempting to find the war graves and memorials to a number of Bolton soldiers who died in the bloody battle with the Turks. Speaking to the BEN from Gallipoli he said: "It is incredibly hot out here but I am determined to visit the site where my uncle fell and find out as much as I can about other local men who died here."

As reported in the BEN, he offered to pay respects on behalf of local families who had lost loved ones in the war.

A number of people contacted him following the report, asking him to visit sites and take photographs for them.

Mr Greenhalgh and his friend William Walker from Vallets Lane in Bolton are believed to have died in brutal fighting during service in the 6th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.