Sharon Osbourne makes touching gesture to Ozzy as she prepares for funeral

Sharon Osbourne has made a touching gesture to her late husband Ozzy as his funeral is set to go ahead today in his home town of Birmingham.

The Black Sabbath frontman’s funeral will take place today (30 July) following his death at the age of 76.

After a struggle with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2019, the ‘Prince of Darkness’ died on 22 July as a statement said he was ‘with his family and surrounded by love’.

Just over two weeks before, Ozzy had performed an iconic farewell show with the original members of the legendary rock band for the first time in 20 years at Birmingham’s Villa Park.

That saw him able to fulfil his long-held wish of returning to his UK hometown, having made their home in Buckinghamshire a permanent retirement base.

And today, his private funeral is set to take place in Birmingham.

Fans are expected to line the street for the funeral procession of Ozzy Osbourne today (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

However, wife Sharon has had to step in in order to help give Ozzy the send-off he deserves.

It has been reported that the city council is struggling for funds, and Birmingham has famously been impacted by bin strikes for a number of months.

So, in a gesture for both the rocker and his fans, the former X Factor judge has paid for road closures to put in place in the area so her husband’s procession can move through the city and, of course, over the Black Sabbath bridge.

Sharon has also covered all the security and costs, it has been reported.

Broad Street is to be closed from 7am and preparations will get underway before the procession begins at 1pm.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend - he was a son of Birmingham.

Ozzy and Sharon were married for over 40 years (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

“Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral. We know how much this moment will mean to his fans."

He added: “We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves."

Ozzy’s hearse will travel along Broad Street to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench with a live brass band performance, before his family continue onto the private ceremony.

Those wanting to livestream the procession can do so here.