AROUND 500 mourners gathered to celebrate the life of an "irreplaceable character" at a funeral for a popular judge who died, aged 68, when the car he was driving was swept away by floodwater.

The family, friends and colleagues of Eric Dickinson packed St Andrews Methodist Church, Worcester, while hundreds more watched the service on a screen in the church hall on the first floor.

District judges, lawyers, police chiefs and Rotarians were among those who listened to heartfelt tributes to the well-known and highly respected judge.

His sons William and Mark addressed mourners first with happy memories of a Dad who loved to play loud classical music, was highly intelligent yet hopeless at DIY and always late.

They ended their tribute with the quote: "Dying is no big deal, the least of us will manage that. Living is the trick."

It set the tone for the service in which Mr Dickinson's zest for life and irrepressible good humour were remembered again and again.

District Judge Phillip Mackenzie spoke of the intellectual lawyer he had known who struggled with maths and enjoyed family law because of a keen interest in people.

He also told how cases decided by the county court judge, who was a former solicitor with Harrison Clark, were rarely subject to appeals because of his remarkable grasp of the law and common sense.

Mr Dickinson's friend Alwyn Davies, who is deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council, paid tribute to a man who was: "like a diamond, multi-faceted and with a sparkling wit."

Mr Davies told Mr Dickinson's widow, Gill, that many people felt and shared her loss and said: "As a friend, as a mate, as an admirer for many years, I know he was well loved.

"Characters like him are hard to find and impossible to replace."

Reverend Anne Smith also spoke on behalf of the ministers at the Pump Street church, where Mr Dickinson attended and preached, who had benefited from his "honest and wise counsel."

Mourners also heard of Mr Dickinson's many interests and accomplishments including as a founder member and former president of the Rotary Club, an actor and producer for amateur dramatics group the Lychgate Players, as vice-chairman of the Leigh and Bransford parish council and a member of Worcester Lawyers' cricket team.

The service was followed by a private cremation.

Mr Dickinson, from Leigh near Malvern, died when his green Volvo estate was swept away as he tried to cross Bow Brook Ford in Walcot Lane, Pershore, on Monday, June 25.

Along with his widow and sons, Mr Dickinson leaves a daughter Emma and six grandchildren.