Eccentric Great Barr collector, Carol Vaughan, will get the funeral she deserves thanks to the help of a generous funeral director which is covering the service cost.

Miss Vaughan, who was affectionately known as the bag lady because she collected tens of thousands of carrier bags, left no money for her cremation, and was destined to have a pauper’s funeral.

But now kind hearted bosses from funeral directors Urwins Undertakers Ltd from Kingstanding, will pay £1,000 for tomorrow’s service, and give the executors the time to collect donations to pay the costs.

Miss Vaughan’s funeral will pay tribute to her eccentricities and her hearse will be filled with carrier bags and decorated with the artificial flowers she collected.

Miss Vaughan died aged 67 on November 26 at her home. As well as collecting thousands of carrier bags, she holds the Guiness World Record for the largest soap collection and had more than 600 biscuit tins in her Great Barr home. She became a local celebrity and recently appeared on ITV’s Daybreak show, on the Collectorholics feature.

Brothers Daniel and Adam Butlin, who were neighbours of Miss Vaughan’s, have been made executors of the will.

Adam Butlin aged 22,  said: “I am a student, so there is no way we could afford to pay the costs of the funeral. We have received many donations. Hopefully we will receive enough to cover the costs.”

Funeral director from Urwins Undertakers, Kelly Melody, said: “Many people in the local area knew Carol or knew of her, so we are just doing all we can to help.”

In her Will,  Miss Vaughan requested that the funeral will take place at Perry Barr Crematorium on Walsall Road where her mother was cremated, and that any left over funds went to Birmingham Dogs Home. Father Darren Smith will be conducting the service free. The funeral is at 11.15am.