Hundreds gathered in Marlborough today for the funeral of Queenie James.

A horse drawn hearse brought her coffin to St Mary's Church for the funeral at 10.45am.

It then carried the coffin to the town cemetery in Frees Avenue for interment.

It was a fitting last journey for a woman who was born in a horse drawn wagon and spent her childhood travelling in one with her family.

Mother-of-six Queenie James, was proud of her Romany gipsy origins.

Mrs James lived in Five Stiles Road in Marlborough with her husband Sam and handicapped daughter Karen.

Her first love was her family and looking after her daughter who Mr James will continue to care for with the help of their other daughters.

Mrs James was told in January that she had cancer of the pancreas.

She endured months of treatment both in Bristol and at the Great Western Hospital where she died aged 65 on April 19.

Mrs James was born at Semington near Trowbridge.

She worked as a heather and flower seller for most of her life, bringing up four daughters and two sons: Charlotte, Bert, Lily, John, Betty and Karen.

She was herself one of seven sisters, four of whom survive her, and she was devoted to her two brothers Jack Bowers and Maddie Hughes.

While the family will welcome floral tributes at the funeral, they would like donations, also, for Cancer Research UK c/o funeral director Thomas Free and Son, The Parade, Marlborough.