A BEAUTIFUL event celebrated the life of much-loved poet Len Saunders on the day that would have marked his 66th birthday.

Len died in July after he was attacked because he did not give a drunken yob a cigarette.

On what would have been his birthday, the community of St Helens gathered to celebrate Len Banana Day.

The event was named after the nickname given to Len by friends at Lucem House Community Cinema – where he was a steward.

Ann Shacklady-Smith, Len's friend and co-founder of Lucem House Community Cinema, said: “If Len was looking down he would have felt humble and pleased. His legacy is very much living on."

The day marked the opening of the Yellow Brick Road, which is step free access to Lucem House on Corporation Street. It was funded by more than £5,000 of donations that were amassed following his death.

Guests, which included members of Len's family, also witnessed the opening of the Writing Room in Len's memory. This will help aspiring writers and poets.

A book of Len's poems, titled Awake, Asleep, a Dream, also went on sale at Wardleworths on Westfield Street.

An evening of tributes followed in the evening, which concluded screening of the Christmas movie, Scrooge, which had been Len’s choice this year. Guests even drank Len Banana beer, which had been brewed up by Connoisseur Ales.

Ann added: "It was a wonderful day filled of emotion. If Len had been there I'm sure he would have come dressed as Scrooge for the film."