THE family of a Barrow man who was allegedly murdered have thanked the community for raising the money they need to buy his grave plot and headstone.

A crowdfunding page was set up by an anonymous Barrow dad, in conjunction with The Mail, to raise the cash the family needs to buy the grave plot and install a headstone.

Known to his friends as Andy, the 31-year-old was buried last month at Barrow Cemetery before his relatives were able to raise the money needed to pay for the funeral.

As a result the funeral was funded by Barrow Borough Council.

A crowdfunding page was set up by an anonymous Barrow dad, in conjunction with The Mail , to raise the cash the family needs to buy the grave plot and install a headstone.

The page has raised the £715 needed to pay the grave plot fees to Barrow Borough Council and The Mail has overseen the cash being handed to Mr Hackett's family.

In addition, collections at St Mark's Church in Barrow town centre have raised in excess of £200, which will be passed on to the family.

Mr Hackett's aunt, Linda Sharkey, said they had been overwhelmed by the kind response from the community.

"We are really really grateful," she said.

"It's wonderful that people have done this and we are so thankful to everyone who's helped."

Two men have been charged in connection with Mr Hackett's death.

Mark James Bartholomew, 39, of no fixed abode, has been charged with murder while Lee Black, 38, of Gloucester Street, has been charged with assisting an offender.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court last week, Black pleaded not guilty to the charge and will appear alongside Bartholomew at trial.

Bartholomew, who denies murder, will return to the court on April 3 for a further case management hearing ahead of a two-week murder trial starting on June 11.