Munich victim Edwards remembered

Hundreds attended the service at Duncan Edwards' statue in Dudley

A thanksgiving service has been held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Duncan Edwards who died after the Munich air crash.

Hundreds of people attended the service to remember the legendary Black Country footballer at his statue in Dudley's Market Place.

Edwards died in hospital 15 days after seven other Manchester United players were killed when the plane crashed.

A minute's applause was also held to celebrate the footballer's life.

Edwards, a full England international with 18 caps, grew up in The Priory, Dudley, and was only 21 when he died.

'Always remembered'

The Man United players, known as the Busby Babes, were returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade when the accident happened on 6 February 1958.

A total of 23 people died as a result of the BEA Elizabethan airliner crashing when taking off from Munich airport.

The thanksgiving service was led by Dudley's mayor David Stanley and the Rev Geoff Johnston, of St Francis' Church, which was Edwards' parish church.

Mr Stanley said: "Duncan will always be remembered by people in Dudley as well as those further afield, across the country and indeed the world."

Dudley Museum and Art Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition marking Edwards' life.

The collection includes photos, press cuttings detailing his career, his football shirts and England caps.