IT was the funeral that pulled at the hearts of Hampshire residents and now a World War Two veteran's memory "will go towards easing the suffering of others" with an £8,250 donation.

Former RAF 'hero', George Peter Osbourne, died in January this year at the age of 96 with very few family and friends, and it was feared that as little as two people would attend his funeral.

But after a moving appeal from Eastleigh's Independent Funeral Directors, hundreds of residents flocked to a Southampton crematorium to make it a send off to remember.

Between the costs of the service, and the many donations from well-wishers, over £8,000 was raised by the funeral director, Paul Capper, who "pledged to donate it in George's memory" to a set of military charities.

Paul said: "The evening was an amazing success. The legacy of George Osbourne lives on and it was a happy conclusion to a sad start to 2019.

"I pledged at George’s funeral that our fees along with the donations at his funeral, including a very generous donation from Wessex Vale crematorium (£6,000), would be donated so that George’s passing has and will go towards easing the suffering of others."

The big donation was split between The Royal British Legion, The Royal Air Force Association, The Southampton Veteran's Drop In Centre, and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, during a presentation event which took place on Monday December 2, at the Eastleigh Working Men's Club.

Over 100 people attended the evening, where the cheque was handed over, as well as a historic photo album of George's life, who served as a Bomber Command Signaller during World War Two.

The photo album will shortly be able to be viewed at The International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, after business partners Pauline Peters and Paul Capper chose to "gift it to the nation".