Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has lent his backing to a regional daily’s campaign set up in memory of a church organist who was killed last Christmas Eve.

Sheffield daily The Star launched Alan’s Appeal last month, in partnership with Alan Greaves’ widow Maureen, to ask readers to support a project run by his church in the city.

The title asked for donations of food, along with clothes, books and toys, to be made to help St Saviour’s Community Project in High Green, which is planning a Christmas meal.

Sheffield MP Mr Clegg donated a box of food to Alan’s Appeal as he met Maureen at The Star’s offices and he praised her and the paper for launching the campaign.

He told the paper: “She sets an extraordinary example – almost a year to the day when Alan was so brutally killed, she is thinking of others.

“I would very much urge everybody to respond to this appeal. Not only is it organised by an extraordinary individual, but also for the best possible reason, to help people less fortunate than others at Christmas.

“It’s exactly the kind of appeal that can only really get to the scale it needs to because of the help of The Star.”

Alan was beaten to death as he walked to St Saviour’s Church to play the organ last Christmas Eve

Jonathan Bowling, 22, admitted his murder and was jailed for life in July, while Ashley Foster, 22, was sentenced to nine years for manslaughter.

Maureen told the paper she would pray for Alan’s killers on the anniversary of his death and said she would hold a special carol service near the spot where he was beaten.

She said: “I’ve lived for a year without Alan’s love for me. It’s been very painful, I’ve cried a lot this year. I think Christmas Eve will be difficult.

“I’m going to mark Christmas Eve by going to the chapel at the Hallamshire Hospital, and on the evening we’re going to have a very special carol service at the railings where Alan was murdered at 11.20pm.

“I’ll lay a wreath for him, and there’ll be a moment where we remember him.”

Maureen has been inundated with donations since the appeal was launched and said Mr Clegg’s donation was a “wonderful gesture”.