Hundreds are expected to line the streets for the funeral of Drummer Lee Rigby, the soldier brutally murdered in Woolwich in May.
The private military funeral will take place at 11am on Friday in Bury Parish Church before Mr Rigby’s body is laid to rest at a private service.
Mr Rigby’s body will be protected by a guard of honour the night before the service.
A post-mortem examination showed that father-of-one Drummer Rigby, from Middleton, had died from ‘multiple incised wounds’, and suffered such ‘extensive and serious’ injuries that he had to be identified using his dental records.
Mr Rigby served with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – a regiment with Bury roots in the shape of the Lancashire Fusiliers.
With hundreds expected to pay their respects, police are expecting the area around the Parish Church to be extremely busy.
A police spokesman said: “Anyone wishing to pay their respects should do so along designated routes.”
The public should line Rochdale Road from the town centre to Heap Bridge should they wish to pay their respects to Fusilier Lee Rigby as his body leaves the Church in Bury, or Hollin Lane between Langley Lane and Rochdale Road as the cortege travels through Middleton.
The procession will take place between 11.30am and 12.15pm.
The spokesman added: “Importantly the family have asked that members of the public refrain from attending the burial service.
“The family have requested this is a private, family only matter, so anyone who wishes to pay their respects should line the aforementioned routes only.”
Michael Adebowale, 22, and Michael Adebolajo, 28, are accused of his murder and will stand trial on November 18 at the Old Bailey.
Neither man has yet placed a plea – this will be done at an hearing on September 27.
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