MORE than 500 people packed into St Michael's Church in Basingstoke on Monday to say a final farewell to Jan Hunter, the wife of MP Andrew Hunter.

Mr Hunter, with his daughter Kate, 23, and son James, 20, led the mourners, which included the mayor of Basingstoke Cllr Rita Burgess, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Mrs Mary Fagan and North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young.

The service was conducted by the Archdeacon of Surrey, the Venerable Robert Reiss - who had been best man at the couple's wedding 30 years ago.

Mrs Hunter died last week at the age of 54, following a three-year battle against cancer.

"Although Jan died so tragically early, we recollect with gratitude how she lived life to the full, her vivacious sense of fun, her cheerfulness, her kind heart, her warmth of character and the inspiration she was to others," said Mr Reiss.

There were readings at the service by the President of Basingstoke Conservative Association, Lord Portsmouth, and by Humfrey Malins, the MP for Woking, Surrey.

Basingstoke businessman Gordon Pirie, who had been a friend of the family for 20 years, told the congregation: "Jan was a wonderful wife, mother and friend.

"If she was anything she was a true friend - and she was fun. She was highly sociable and outgoing."

He recalled how the date of Kate's wedding had been brought forward to January, in the hope that Jan could be there.

He also told how, shortly before her death, Jan had helped her daughter choose the wedding dress.

The funeral and thanksgiving service was followed by burial at St Mary's Church, Silchester.