More than 150 people turned out on Tuesday for the funeral of popular Calne runner Ken Shaw, who died last month.

Mr Shaw died aged 71 at Royal United Hospital, in Bath, on October 16 following a short illness.

He was a familiar face around Calne and throughout the running world for his love of long distances and especially of ultra marathons, as evidenced by the large turnout at his funeral at St Mary’s Church.

Mr Shaw’s family were accompanied by a bagpiper as they walked with the cortege from their home in Anchor Road to the church. Many of his running partners and rivals travelled to the town for the funeral, some wearing tracksuits in his honour.

His sons Darren, Mark and Kenny battled back tears as they read tributes to their father, while his daughter Debbie was also in attendance, along with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Darren said he was “still shocked at the speed with which he left us” and said watching his father, who had developed dementia in his later years, deteriorate had been heartbreaking.

He also spoke about his father’s running and how the family used to follow Mr Shaw to his many competitions all over the country.

He said: “It would sometimes take us hours to walk in to town because everyone would want dad to stop and have a chat with them.”

He added the biggest thing he learnt from him was how to be a good father.

Mr Shaw, a former leaflet distributor, had been due to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary to wife Janet next year. A passage read out on her behalf said he was a “devoted husband and devoted father” and that “it is easy to remember the good times because, before the illness, there were only good times”.

Friend and fellow runner Phil Hampton said: “He was a special man and his family should be very proud looking at how many people turned out today.”

Mr Shaw was laid to rest in Curzon Street Cemetery and donations were made in his memory to Dementia UK and Cancer Research UK.