D-DAY Great Escape hero Bernard Jordan has donated almost his entire estate to the RNLI.

Former Second World War submariner, mayor and long-serving Hove councillor Bernard Jordan has left £600,000 in his will to the RNLI.

The 90-year-old, who died earlier this month just days before his wife Irene, captured the nation’s hearts when he left The Pines care home in Hove to travel to Normandy to take part in the 70th anniversary of D-Day celebrations in June.

RNLI bosses said the generous donation from the couple will help to save lives at sea for years to come.

They believe that Bernard’s admiration for the organisation stems from his time in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

The news comes ahead of the funeral service for Bernard and Irene, which will be held at St Michael and All Angels Church in Brighton on Friday at 11.30am.

This will be followed by a private committal where they will be cremated together.

Paul Boissier, RNLI chief executive, said: “This is absolutely wonderful, unexpected news. Bernard’s story charmed the nation last year when he journeyed from his Sussex care home to France to commemorate the D-Day landings.

“That spirit, that determination, is embedded deep within the psyche of our volunteer lifeboat crews who go to sea to save others in peril on the sea.

“I am delighted that the couple chose to leave us this sizeable donation, and their contribution, like those of Bernard’s veteran peers, will never be forgotten.”