Friends and family of Rik Mayall have paid their respects to the late comedian at his funeral in Britain.

Ruby Wax, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French were among mourners who attended the service at St. George's Church in Devon.

Mayall - known for roles in TV hits such as 'Bottom', 'The New Statesman' and 'The Young Ones' - had a home in the county.

Prior to the service, Mayall's widow Barbara asked fans for their "thoughts and prayers" during the private ceremony.

Around 140 people packed the church to remember the star who died last week aged 56 at his home in south-west London after going for a morning jog.

Mrs. Mayall said he died of an "acute cardiac event".

Others who filed into the church, accompanied by Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' on organ, were Alan Rickman and actor and director Peter Richardson, a long-standing friend with whom Mayall had worked repeatedly.

Ben Elton, his old friend from university and one of his co-writers on 'The Young Ones', was also among the mourners who saw the wicker coffin - adorned with red flowers - carried into the church.

A memorial service for the star is expected to be held in September.

Mayall shot to national fame for his role as poetry-writing anarchist Rick in 'The Young Ones', going on to star as conniving Conservative MP Alan B'Stard in 'The New Statesman' and Lord Flashheart in 'Blackadder'.