Fans of Frank Carson were given chance to pay a personal tribute on Saturday after his coffin was put on display in his local church.

A short private reception was held for the comedian's family when his coffin arrived at St Kentigern's Roman Catholic Church in Blackpool, Lancashire.

Carson, who died on Wednesday at the age of 85 after a long battle with stomach cancer, was a parishioner and lived nearby.

His coffin was placed on public display inside St Kentigern's after the family reception and was set to remain throughout the day.
Carson will be buried in his native Belfast next Saturday.

A Requiem Mass will be held in St Patrick's Church, where he married his wife Ruth more than 60 years ago.

But Blackpool was his adopted home, and fans have been leaving floral tributes to the veteran stand-up comic on the town's Comedy Carpet.

One of Carson's catchphrases - "It's the way I tell 'em" - is immortalised in the visitor attraction on the resort's promenade.
Carson died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

In the wake of his death, his son, Tony, said it was only right that he should be buried in Belfast.

"We have to take him home," he said.

"That's where he came from and that's where he gets the roots of his humour - that sort of Belfast dry wit, no respect for anything or everybody but respect at the same time.

"So we've got to take him back there and celebrate the great life that he had."