More than 300 mourners packed Bingley Parish Church to bid farewell to Conservative party stalwart and former Shipley MP Sir Marcus Fox, who died aged 74.

Half an hour before yesterday afternoon's funeral service family, friends and party officials had virtually filled the pews at All Saints and by the time the service got under way there was standing room only at the historic parish church.

The passing of one of the previous Conservative Govern-ment's most influential politicians - he was former chairman of the Tory party's powerful backbench 1922 Committee - was marked by a short, straightforward, no-nonsense service which reflected his approach to politics.

Conducted by Bingley's team rector, the Reverend Stephen Kelly, the service included a reading of Psalm 23 by former MP Sir Fergus Montgomery - one of Sir Marcus's closest friends and former Parliamen-tary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher.

There were also rousing renditions of the hymns Bread of Heaven and Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.

Giving the address, Canon Graham Bettridge, a life-long member of Wilsden Conservative Club, described Sir Marcus as a "unique personality'' and "jovial, cheerful friend'' who had an "infectious enthusiasm for the humanity of politics'' and pursued his work "without regard to reward or favour''.

He said Sir Marcus was a "born politician'' who had "said it as it was and looked you in the eye as he said it as it was'' and was guided by "loyalty and integrity to himself''.

The mourners included Sir Marcus's widow, Lady Ann Fox, his two children Gina and Christopher, former Keighley and Ilkley MP Gary Waller, MEP Timothy Kirkhope, Shipley West Tory councillor John Carroll - who worked as an election agent for Sir Marcus - senior figures from the Association of Conservative Clubs of which he was a former president, Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton and TV presenter Richard Whiteley.

Conservative Party Central Office was represented by Greg Knight, shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons.

Following the service Mr Whiteley said: "He was a great friend and a great man of the people. I'd known him for 30-odd years and interviewed him more than any other MP. He was a great lover of Yorkshire and you always felt better after you'd had five minutes with Marcus.

"His arguments weren't the most intellectual but they were always the most understandable and sensible.''

David Senior, vice-president of the Yorkshire region of the Association of Conservative Clubs, who attempted to regain the Shipley seat for the Tories at last year's General Election, said: "Marcus gave me a lot of advice, help and encouragement as I sought to fill his extremely large shoes."

The service was followed by a private burial at Bingley Cemetery with mourners making donations to the Bingley Flower Fund Home.