Eddie Redmayne arrives at Professor Stephen Hawking's funeral

The funeral of Professor Stephen Hawking will be held at a church in Cambridge this afternoon.

Millions of people around the world will say goodbye to the renowned physicist, who died at his home in the city on March 14.

The church is just a stone's throw from Gonville & Caius where the professor was a fellow for 52 years.

Mourners - including actor and former Cambridge student Eddie Redmayne have travelled to the city to pay their respects.

Professor Hawking's coffin will be carried by six porters from the college, all in traditional uniform.

In a statement, Prof Hawking's children Lucy, Robert and Tim said: "On behalf of our whole family we want to express our huge gratitude to all the wonderful tributes to our father and to those who have sent us messages of condolence.

"Our father lived and worked in Cambridge for over 50 years. He was an integral and highly recognisable part of the university and thecity.

"For this reason, we have decided to hold his funeral in the city that he loved so much and which loved him.

"So, the service will be both inclusive and traditional, reflecting thebreadth and diversity of his life."