Alan Henning: Memorial service to be held in Manchester for murdered British aid worker

His widow, Barbara, and children, Adam and Lucy, are expected to attend the ceremony at the British Muslim Heritage Centre

A memorial service is due to be held in Manchester this evening for murdered British aid worker Alan Henning (AP)

A memorial service will be held in Manchester this evening for murdered British aid worker Alan Henning.

His widow, Barbara, and children, Adam and Lucy, were expected to attend the ceremony, held at the British Muslim Heritage Centre, which will include speeches from friends and faith and political leaders.

Mr Henning was kidnapped in Syria by Isis militants in December last year while delivering food and supplies on an aid convoy to refugees.

A video purporting to show the brutal murder of the 47-year-old taxi driver was posted on the internet last week.

Organisers of the service, entitled His Life and Legacy Remembered, have urged members of the public to "join together to remember an extraordinary individual and the need to continue his legacy of humanitarian aid work".

On their Facebook page, they added: "This event is to remember Alan Henning, the work he did and pay tribute to the legacy he has left behind.

"This is for people of all faiths and none to stand together, unite and continue the work."

An Alan Henning memorial fund for his family, set up by one of the event's organisers - friend and fellow aid worker Dr Shameela Islam-Fulfiqar - on the Go Fund Me platform, has raised more than £25,000.

Another online fund, set up by a community group in Walkden, Salford, has raised nearly £9,000.

Last Sunday, Mrs Henning and her family joined hundreds of well-wishers at a service of "reflection and solidarity" at Eccles Parish Church in Salford.

Additional reporting by Press Association