TEARS and laughter filled St Peter's Church in Hever, near Tonbridge, as showbiz stars packed the small 13th century building to say a fond farewell to the former Blue Peter presenter Caron Keating.

Among the mourners at Tuesday's funeral service were Sir Cliff Richard, Cilla Black, Richard Madeley, Judy Finnigan, Noel Edmonds, Ant and Dec, Philip Schofield, Anthea Turner, Darren Day, and the former Blue Peter presenters Mark Curry, Peter Duncan and John Leslie.

Caron had died aged 41 at her mother Gloria Hunniford's home in Sevenoaks the previous Tuesday after a seven-year battle against breast cancer.

The service took place in the church where she had married her husband Russ Lindsay 13 years previously.

Among the many emotional tributes was an open letter by Miss Hunniford which was read out by Mr Lindsay. In it she said: "What a joy and a privilege for over 41 years to have you as my most precious and loving daughter.

"I feel so proud to have been your mum and I could not have wished for a more glorious daughter; spirited caring loving and full of fun.

"You showered endless love and joy on our lives and brought light and rainbows to us daily."

Miss Hunniford went on to say how watching her daughter battle against cancer had taught her so much about positiveness, tenacity, dignity, spiritual growth and integrity.

She added: "I miss you so much already, and I miss talking to you every day. The heartache of losing you will never be healed but you have left us with millions of exquisite thoughts and memories."

The tribute concluded: "You always did believe in angels and now you are one of God's brightest and most beautiful, so fly freely, my darling Caron, in your release from pain and know that every second I will carry you in my heart. With all my love forever, Mum."

In a moving 40-minute eulogy, which ended in applause from the congregation, Mr Lindsay spoke of his life together with his "inspirational" wife, the deterioration of her condition while in Switzerland and her last moments at her mother's home in Sevenoaks.

He said: "I was the luckiest man in the world because for 16 and a half years I was the one walking the path with her."

Among the mourners were the couple's sons, Charlie, nine, and Gabriel, seven, and her two brothers Michael and Paul, who both had open letters to Caron read out during the service.

As well as being a Blue Peter presenter, Caron had also done stints on ITV's This Morning and other television programmes."

This Morning presenter Richard Madeley, who was among the coffin bearers, told the congregation: "She was a wonderful mother and a consummate presenter but had a steely and flinty side to her which was a weapon in inflicting victory after victory over cancer. Judy and I began to think she was invincible but she wasn't."

His wife and co-presenter Judy Finnigan: "We both adored her and we will miss her with all our hearts."

Sir Cliff Richard added: "I guess my eternal memory will be the same as everyone else's - that Caron was an inspiring person."

The service, which was conducted by the Rev Malcolm Gribble, lasted nearly two and a half hours and was followed by a private committal in the churchyard.