DRUGS "general" Gary Hardy has been denied leave from prison to attend his brother's funeral in Kirkby-in-Ashfield tomorrow.

Paul Hardy died at Nottingham's QMC hospital on January 13 aged 51.

He was serving 12 years at Lowdham Grange prison for his part in a multi-million pound operation which flooded Notts with class A drugs.

Gary Hardy, who is serving 20 years at Full Sutton jail in Yorkshire, is understood to have asked about attending the funeral. The Post understands permission was refused.

The owner of a pub in Kirkby, who did not want to give their name for fear of reprisals, said he had heard a Hells Angels motorcycle group were expected to descend on the town for the service.

He was yesterday deciding whether to close the pub for the day.

A wake is expected to take place at the Kingsway pub after the service at St Wilfrid's Church at 1pm.

A police spokesman said the force was aware of the event, but officers would not be specifically policing the funeral.

The spokesman added: "We have not told pubs to close, if they have done so, they have done so of their own volition.

"We are expecting high numbers to attend the funeral."

Hardy was convicted in September 2008 at Nottingham Crown Court of conspiracy to supply heroin, amphetamines, cannabis resin and possessing criminal property.

As part of the same case, his brother Gary was sentenced to 20 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and amphetamines, money laundering and possession of criminal property.

The trial heard that Paul Hardy had confessed to 'banker' Dale Arnold he was a crack cocaine addict and owed his brother £100,000 for his past consumption of the drug.

He was also dealing drugs for his brother, according to Arnold.

The brothers' mother, June Muers, then 66, and Paul Hardy's partner at the time, Zoe Chapman, were also sent to prison, for three years, for helping to sell drugs.