HUNDREDS packed St Andrew's Parish Church, Ipplepen, many of them standing, for the funeral service of one of the village's great character's, Victor Elliott.

The former butcher, who still kept his hand in at farming at the age of 87, had died doing one of the things he liked most – working on the farm.

His tractor had gone over him on June 28 and he lost his fight for life three weeks later in Torbay Hospital.

Leading the service on Thursday last week, the vicar of Ipplepen, the Rev Ian Eglin, said they had lost one of the great character's of the village.

'Victor was a colourful character and had a huge sense of fun and laughter. If there was a traffic hold-up in our village the chances were that Victor was holding everything up by having a chat through the open window of his Land Rover.

'He had a kind heart and warm heart. Once you got through the colourful vocabulary and bluntness, you would find a kind man who helped those in need,' said Mr Eglin.

For more than 50 years Cllr Elliott, a staunch Conservative, had served on Ipplepen Parish Council. He was the father of Teignbridge Council, on which he had represented the village since 1991, being the oldest serving councillor in the district.

FULL STORY IN OUR ONLINE EDITION