HUNDREDS of mourners have attended the funeral of former city mayor Mary Key.

People packed into St Mary's Church, in Southampton, for the civic ceremony yesterday afternoon. Council chiefs were present to pay tribute to the fiery politician and twice former mayor, who died at her home aged 78.

The flag at Southampton civic centre was also flying at half mast, as it has been since her death last week.

The mother-of-eight, affectionately known as the Queen Mary of Woolston, had asked for money to be donated to Southampton charity Wessex Heartbeat.

A private family-only cremation ceremony was held after the city centre civic funeral.