Hundreds of people took to the streets of a north Norfolk village to give a spectacular send-off for a 'larger-than-life' member of their community.

Arthur Kidd, who died of prostate cancer at the age of 79, was a Romany gypsy known across Britain as a dealer of horses, land and almost any other commodity.

He travelled all over the country to gypsy fairs and was even known to walk into pubs with one of his horses – getting away with it through his fabled 'gift of the gab'.

So his funeral was a fittingly flamboyant event in his home village of Briston, with six majestic black stallions pulling his coffin on an ornate carriage as large as a lorry.

Many more horse-drawn mourners followed. But the atmosphere was one of celebration rather than sadness, as carriages passed laden with floral displays, many featuring an equine theme and one proclaiming: 'The best dealer amongst all travellers, AK'.

The cortège brought onlookers out of their homes to watch, joining the legions of friends and family as the procession moved slowly away to Saxthorpe, near Aylsham, where Mr Kidd had been born in a railway carriage.

It was also to become his final resting place, following the packed service at St Andrew's Church and his burial alongside his first wife Jennifer, with whom he had three children – Joe, Teresa and Richenda.

As well has his three children he had eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.