Paul O’Grady funeral: Tearful husband cuddles dog as TV icon carried on horse drawn carriage and fans line streets

PAUL O'Grady's tearful husband cuddled one of their beloved dogs as the TV legend was carried past fans to his celeb-packed funeral on a horse-drawn carriage today.

Hundreds of mourners - and their pooches - lined the streets to pay their respects before the British icon was laid to rest this afternoon.

The much-loved broadcaster passed away late last month after a sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

The 67-year-old's passing shocked the nation, with tributes quickly pouring in for the Radio 2 star.

This afternoon he was farewelled at a private service at St Rumwold's Parish Church in Bonnington.

He was then laid to rest next to the grave of his partner Brendan Murphy, who died in 2005.

Dozens of Paul's celeb pals made their way into the church to say their goodbyes, including Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and comedian Alan Carr.

LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatcher, TV presenter Gaby Roslin and comedian Jo Brand were also in attendance, as well as comedian Julian Clary, actress Dame Sheila Hancock, the late Dame Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell and EastEnders actor Scott Maslen.

Celebrity chef Andi Oliver and Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay could also be seen patting dogs outside, too.

At the church, pallbearers carried the wooden coffin adorned with a wreath of lilies.

Then Paul's daughter Sharyn Mousley walked in with a young man holding the wig of Lily Savage - her father's drag alter ego.

Ahead of the funeral, tributes were left outside the church by Paul's loved ones.

A note from Sharyn read: "Gongan, we miss you so much, Abel and Halo will never forget you.

"Your little teddy is with you. I love you."

A tribute from his "heartbroken" sister Sheila, Pete and Helen said: "Dear Paul, beloved and loved brother, brother-in-law and uncle.

"Will love, remember and miss you forever. Rest in peace."

But before Paul's service, fans had the chance to pay their respects.

A procession leading to the funeral saw the icons's coffin brought through his hometown of Aldington, Kent, on a horse-drawn carriage.

SPECIAL 'GUARD OF HONOUR'

Paul's heartbroken husband Andre Portasio rode on the carriage wiping away tears as he cradled Conchita the maltese, one of the couple's five dogs.

Inside was a bouquet of flowers made into the shape of a pooch - which resembled Paul's late shih tzu-bichon frise cross Buster.

Buster, who regularly appeared on the Big Breakfast Show and Lily Live, died of cancer at the age of 14 in 2009.

As the coffin moved past the lines of mourners, many wiped away tears as they patted their dogs.

In a special nod to the canine lover, a guard of honor was made up of pooches from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Paul had become an ambassador for the animal charity in 2012 and rehomed five dogs while filming his multiple award-winning ITV show Paul O'Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.

Labrador Elsie, Shih Tzu-Jack Russell cross Digby, Chihuahua Betty, and cross breed Barney, were among the rescue animals standing guard.

The crowds had started lining the streets this morning.

'THANK YOU, MR O'GRADY'

Among those were Fleur Boyd and her mum Astrid Allen who travelled from Margate to pay their respects.

The mother-daughter duo bother wore shirts with massive dogs on them in memory of Paul, who rose to fame as Lily Savage.

Pupils from the local primary school also paid their respects to Paul by creating massive heart-shaped collages of drawings of dogs.

Ben Dawson, co-headteacher of Aldington Primary School, watched on with pride as students showed off their work.

He said: "Since Paul moved to the village he has been quite active with our village school. He would regularly turn up.

"He would not just turn up and then go, he would stay and chat to the children.

"His death has been very unexpected and the children and staff had a conversation.

"We felt it appropriate that we would commemorate with a banner out the front of the school (during the procession) which will simply say 'Thank you, Mr O'Grady'."

The much-loved broadcaster's service is being held in Kent as it was the place he called home for more than 20 years.

Meanwhile, a "community funeral" was planned for Paul in Birkenhead, Merseyside where he was born.