A NEW plaque to honour the 33 people who died in the Burnden Disaster 70 years ago will be unveiled on the site of the tragedy today.

Bolton Wanderers have been remembering the dead throughout the year to mark the anniversary, including a public memorial service at the Macron Stadium in March.

Now a plaque similar to the one unveiled at the Nat Lofthouse statue at the Macron in May will be placed at the Asda Burnden store, the site of Wanderers' former home where the tragedy unfolded.

There is already a memorial to the disaster in the supermarket, but the dedication of the plaque by club chaplain Phil Mason will mark the culmination of Wanderers' tributes during this anniversary year.

Mr Mason will lead a short service starting at 3pm in the supermarket, around the plaque, which will be placed near the foyer. Members of the public are also being invited.

The plaque will include the names of all 33 people who died in the disaster, which happened on March 9, 1946 during an FA Cup semi final between Wanderers and Stoke City.

Members of the current Wanderers playing staff are expected to appear to add their tributes.

The tragedy is often described as football's "forgotten disaster", with the awful events at Bradford and Hillsborough overshadowing one of Wanderers' darkest days.

The tragedy unfolded as thousands of football fans surged into Burnden Park before kick off, which caused a crush to develop.

Thirty one men, one woman and one child died, and hundreds more were injured.

Andrew Dean, Wanderers' promotions manager, said: "The Burnden Disaster is an important piece of history for Bolton Wanderers and the town.

"It really was the forgotten disaster. People had seen so much death and destruction, being soon after the war, people just carried on. It would be so different if something similar happened today.

"But it will never be forgotten by everyone at Bolton Wanderers."