'The funniest man'

Hundreds of people have turned out for the funeral of Norman Collier in East Yorkshire today.

Mourners included fellow comics Russ Abbot, Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown, Eddie Large, Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies, Cannon & Ball, Tom O'Connor, and Roy Hudd.

Large told BBC News: ‘Norman was the funniest man I've ever met in my life. I've never had so many laughs in his company, ever. He was just brilliant.

Some of the comics attempted Collier's distinctive faulty microphone gag, but Abbot added: ‘No-one could do it like Norman’.

The funeral took place at St Helen's Church in the village of Welton.

Collier died earlier this month at the age of 87 after battling Parkinson's disease for a number of years.

Published: 27 Mar 2013