SINGING star Cilla Black will be laid to rest in her home city of Liverpool today.

The funeral of 72-year-old, who died at her home in Estepona, Spain on August 1 after suffering a fall, will take place at St Mary’s Church in the Woolton suburb at 1pm.

A two mile funeral cortege is expected to begin at the junction of Woolton Road and Church Road North and will carry on to the junction of Blackwood Avenue before continuing to the church.

The Blind Date star’s family have said the public will not have access to the church grounds during the funeral and have asked fans not to travel to the village as it could “compromise the funeral party and invited guests from attending”.

One fan family who were deeply saddened by the death of the Anyone Who Had A Heart singer was The Lochheads, from Clarkston, who were contestant’s on Cilla’s game show Moment of Truth.

JacQui, alongside her husband Mark and children Jade and Barry and her father Desmond O’Neil, took part in the show’s first series back in 1998 and even spent a lot of time with the “incredibly friendly” star.

JacQui, 53, said of her experience: “The ITV crew were coming to the house but we didn’t know they had a camera crew so the door bell rang and my husband ran down and saw Cilla Black at the door and was absolutely gobsmacked.

“I think the neighbourhood knew she was here before I did – I had no idea.

“When I seen her, I ran away and brushed my hair.

“It’s very sad, I know that my dad would have been devastated – he was a great fan.

“He passed away in June this year so I said to my daughter maybe they will meet.

“She was such a lovely person – she sent flowers to all of us and said we were all stars and the ITV crew told us that she paid for them personally.

Shirley McLean sang back up for the star in the 1980s, along with her sister Melody, and the pair now handles public relations for the iconic Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Shirley, from the West End, said: “We met with Cilla in Liverpool in 1979 while we working with Ken Dodd.

“She was very, very pretty and was beautifully dressed – we would say ‘oh beautiful outfit.’

“She was very down to earth and we met Bobby and they really were a great couple.

“Singing with her in 80s was quite a thrill and we got to sing all the great songs, like Alfie.

“Not everyone in showbiz is who they make out to be but she really was.”