HUNDREDS of people lined the streets to say goodbye to a community hero last week.

To mark the death of Agnes Matthews, 83, better known as ‘Mrs M’ or ‘Nan Matthews’, residents in Touch were urged to pay tribute after her family had arranged for the hearse to pass through the Dunfermline neighbourhood on her final journey.

It was evident that Nan was a credit to her community as hundreds of mourners gathered around her street, Touch Primary, Woodmill High, the Tryst Centre and Dunfermline Crematorium to give her the send-off she deserved.

Children at Touch Primary took the time to decorate their school railings with pictures for Mrs M, a little boy showed up to play the bagpipes in her honour and the lollipop lady's replacement took the time to play his part controlling the traffic.

Her daughter, Janetta McGuire, told the Press: "We were blown away by the support.

"It was so touching that people took the time to say goodbye.

"We were devastated that only a few people could come to her funeral and we were dreading it.

"Although it was still sad, the response just showed what people thought about her."

Nan was a pillar of her community for more than 50 years but died sadly last month from cancer.

She worked for Fife Council for more than 50 years and only finally retired last year.

Her many roles included school cleaner, janitor at Woodmill High and, most recently, she was the lollipop lady for Touch Primary School for 16 years.

She was also pivotal in making the Dunfermline Gala what it is today after a committee she helped set up took over to make sure it would keep going in the 1970s.

She was a passionate member of the Labour party and a union rep and also continued to be a big part of the community as a member of the Abbeyview Tryst Community Centre until recent months.

Such was her popularity in Touch that a Facebook post about her death was shared more than 400 times.

"It was incredibly sweet to see the effort people went last Friday," Janetta added.

"I didn't know what to say to thank people.

"People were throwing flowers on to the hearse and I'd never seen anything like before.

"I didn't know the little boy that piped but by the emotion on his face, you could see that my mum meant something to him.

"I think the Press' article helped everyone in the community know what was going on and it was fantastic the support we received from the story.

"I think the community it was nice to see everyone together even in bad times."