A thanksgiving service is to be held on the Isle of Wight next week for Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella, who died last month.

The 54-year-old died on March 18 after suffering a haemorrhage at Charing Cross Hospital in west London following an operation on a growth in his neck.

The service is being held on Saturday, April 26, at St Thomas' Church in Newport, and is being organised by his family and the Isle of Wight Council.

Minghella was born and brought up in Ryde where his family still live and run an ice-cream business.

The director of The English Patient, Cold Mountain and Truly Madly Deeply was made the first Freeman of the Isle of Wight in 1997.

Council chairman Roger Mazillius said: "Mr Minghella was a supremely talented and creative man who, despite his success, never forgot his roots and was a tremendous ambassador for the island.

"Pride in his success was shared by everyone on the island and he was an inspiration to a generation of young people here.

"It is only fitting and proper that the island of which Anthony was so proud, celebrates his wonderful achievements."

A statement from the Minghella family says: "We will miss Anthony more than we can say.

''Of course he was a brilliant director and writer, acclaimed worldwide for his amazing talents.

''But more than that, he was a wonderful son, husband, father, brother and uncle, who loved, and was loved, by all who knew him.

''His genius, and his gift of gentle human kindness, live on in his work and in the hearts of those he has so tragically left behind.

"He never forgot his island roots, and was honoured to be made the first Freeman of the Isle of Wight.

"We look forward to celebrating his life with our island 'family' on April 26."