FORMER Mayor of Kidderminster and council leader, Norman Broome, was honoured with a civic funeral.

St Mary's Church was filled with guests to pay tribute to Mr Broome, who died last month, aged 78.

Guests included present mayor, Siri Hayward, Dr Richard Taylor and representatives from Husum, the German town twinned with Kidderminster.

Mr Broome was chairman of Kidderminster Husum Twinning Association for 25 years and had just returned from Husum when he died after a short illness.

Charles Talbot, who, along with Mr Broome, was made an honorary burgess of Kidderminster, paid tribute to his friend at the service, on Wednesday of last week.

Mr Talbot told the Shuttle/Times and News: "It was an extremely good service and we had a full church.

"It was all done with great dignity and great affection."

He went on: "Norman made things happen and we are a bit lost at the moment without him.

"I am sure we will recover, though, and I am sure we will go on doing the things he encouraged," added Mr Talbot.

Mr Broome was a president of the Kidderminster Horticultural Society, the town's pistol club and Kidderminster Carnival Committee as well as chairman of Wyre Forest District Council in 1982 and 1990.

He was also Mayor of Kidderminster in 1976 and 1985.

Councillor Siri Hayward, said after the service: "He was a lovely guy. He was always jolly and full of ideas.

"Under his inspiration and guidance I think the twinning association really blossomed and I think it is a really important link for the town.

"He will be sorely missed," she added.