THE grave of Blackburn Rovers' founding father John Lewis has been fully restored - with the club's famous crest inscribed on the headstone.

Lewis, who helped to form the club in 1875, lies buried in Blackburn Municipal Cemetery.

Rovers officials acted quickly to restore the grave after learning that it had become overgrown and fallen into disrepair.

Chairman John Williams said: "John Lewis was an important man in the club's history, not to mention a leading figure in the town, and we were very keen to see his final resting place restored."

The club was first made aware of the grave's condition last year by author Peter Lupson, who re-discovered it while compiling research for his book on football club founders.

Peter Lupson said: "The grave is a wonderful tribute to the man. I find it all very emotional. He was one of the great citizens of the town and yet all there was to mark his existence was a neglected grave. However, thanks to the club, it has all been put right."

Gwenda Haydock, a keen Rovers' fan and a great, great, great niece of Lewis, said: "Although I'm family, I wasn't aware that John Lewis was buried here. It was only when I did my family tree that I realised.

"The grave could so easily have fallen into disrepair which would have been a great shame. I'm really happy that the restoration involved the original headstone. We thought it was just stone, but now it has all been cleaned up it's actually beautiful white marble!"

Lewis, a leading member of the temperance movement in Blackburn, helped found Rovers following a meeting with Arthur Constantine 133 years ago. He was also vice-chairman of the Football Association and Football League and was once considered to be the world's leading referee.

Pictured at the restored grave are, left to right: Peter Lupson, John Williams, Rev. Ken Howells and Gwenda Haydock.