Friends and family gather for Lynda Bellingham funeral

The husband of Lynda Bellingham has said the success of her memoir is the "best ever memorial" to the actress, who died last month after battling cancer.

Her book 'There's Something I've Been Dying To Tell You', discusses her illness in detail and has sold over 150,000 copies so far.

Her widower, Michael Pattermore, said: "The response to the book has meant so much to us. Lynda would be over the moon - and especially at all the news we are getting about how what she has said has helped so many people. For the boys and me, that's the best-ever memorial we can have for her."

Presenter Gyles Brandreth, who was a friend of Bellingham, said she would have been "thrilled beyond words to find that her book had become a number one best-seller".

Read: Lynda Bellingham shared Christmas plans in last interview

TV presenter and actress Lynda Bellingham "showed us how to live and taught us how to die," TV personality and former MP Gyles Brandreth said at her funeral today.

Brandreth was among stars of the stage and screen who joined Bellingham's family, including her husband Michael Pattemore, at a poignant service in Crewkerne, Somerset, today.

ITV News' Martha Fairlie reports:

The husband of Lynda Bellingham told mourners gathered at her funeral of the couple's first meeting ten years ago to the day in Spain.

Michael Pattemore told the congregation: "When our eyes met I knew there was an immediate attraction. Apparently the first thing Lynda whispered to her friend Pat was 'There's a Jack the Lad if ever I saw one'. Honestly I am not.

"As I stood in that Spanish sunshine 10 years ago falling in love with a beautiful woman, never in my worst nightmares did I imagine that today I would be speaking at her funeral.

"Thank you Lynda for letting me be a lucky, lucky man who shared your life for 10 wonderful, far too short years."

Fighting back tears, Mr Pattemore added: "I did try and keep my promise to keep her safe but the only thing I couldn't do was protect her from this vicious cancer.

"I don't like feeling helpless but there was so much I couldn't do for her. Most people only get one chance in life for love and I am truly lucky in getting another go."

Fireworks were set off as Lynda Bellingham was laid to rest at a cemetery in Crewkerne, Somerset.

Silver, green and red fireworks were accompanied by cheers and loud clapping from the mourners who had gathered at Townsend Cemetery for the private service.

Some guests wept and embraced each other outside the church following the funeral before walking to the cemetery.

Bellingham's husband Mr Pattemore was overheard telling a group outside the chapel: "Everyone laughed as she came out, that is exactly what I wanted. It was exactly what I wanted."

Friends from the showbiz world including Loose Women co-star Denise Welch paid tribute to Bellingham at her funeral today.

Welch received a round off applause as she read out an ode she had written for her friend.

During the piece she said: "If you are looking down from wherever you are I am sure you will be having a hoot at the odd bods that loved you so dearly like Biggins in that bloody pink suit.

She added: "Your humour is what I will remember and the dirtiest laugh known to man."

Biggins had mourners laughing with a theatrical five-minute tribute to his great friend.

Then, fighting back tears, he turned to the coffin and said: "Lynda... Belly... we will cry but eventually at the end of the day we all love you, we will always love you as you were so, so special. Thank you."

TV personality and former MP Gyles Brandreth paid the first tribute at Lynda Bellingham's funeral.

Speaking at the church in Somerset, he said:

Tributes were then read by her sister Jean Bellingham and actress Maureen Lipman.

TV star Christopher Biggins said the pink suit he wore to the funeral of Lynda Bellingham would have "put a smile on her face".

Biggins wore a bright pink suit and pale shirt and accompanied to the funeral of Lynda Bellingham at St Bartholomew's Church in Crewkerne, Somerset, by his partner, Neil Sinclair.

Asked about his suit, Biggins replied: "She (Lynda) would like this, put a smile on her face."

Many of the guests arriving at the church were carrying umbrellas due to the rain, as more than 100 members of the public lined the path outside the church to pay their respects.

Lynda had asked for a lively send-off, so her husband, Michael Pattemore, has lined up a string of acts to make the funeral a Royal Variety-style celebration of the much-loved actress's life.

Her friend, former Archdeacon of London Peter Delaney MBE, is leading the service at the church, which holds 300 guests.

Among the showbiz stars gathering for the funeral were Loose Women Coleen Nolan, Jane McDonald, Andrea McLean and Kate Thornton, as well as Julia Sawalha, Coronation Street's Helen Worth, Robert Lindsay, Giles Brandreth and Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes.

Also attending was her screen husband from the hit Oxo adverts, Michael Redfern. The actress, who died of cancer last month, was 66.

The service began as Bellingham's husband Michael, and sons Michael, 31, and Robert, 26, helped carry her wooden coffin adorned with white flowers into the church as Elgar's Nimrod - The Enigma Variations played.

Mourners following in behind the coffin wept as they carried single white roses.

The congregation sang the hymn Lead us heavenly Father before Loose Women star Lisa Maxwell read The Epistle to the Romans (ch 8.31-39).