TRIBUTES have been paid to the billionaire philanthropist Sir Paul Getty II who ensured the Mappa Mundi stayed at its Hereford home.

Sir Paul donated £1m to Hereford Cathedral so it would be able to keep the mediaeval map. In 1988 it was faced with selling it to finance a £7m repair programme.

Sir Paul was granted the Freedom of the City in 1996 for his generosity.

Prayers were said at Hereford Cathedral in the days before his death on Thursday.

"The Cathedral has always been grateful to Sir Paul and his generosity in ensuring the Mappa Mundi, a unique mediaeval map of the world, is kept in the city of Hereford," said Anni Holden, director of communications for the Diocese of Hereford.

"Sir Paul has been mentioned in prayers for the last few days."

The Mappa Mundi dates back to the 13th Century and reveals how scholars interpreted the world, both geographically and spiritually. It is on display at Hereford Cathedral.

Sir Paul also gave £1m to the V&A and the National Gallery of Scotland to keep the Three Graces statue in Britain.

It was sculpted by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova in 1814. His great-great-great-great-granddaughter, Lucia Parker, lived in Worcester in the 1990s.

Sir Paul inherited his wealth from his father American John Paul Getty, who invested oil funds on the stock exchange to become the world's richest man.

Although American-born, Sir Paul will be remembered as a very English philanthropist.

After two marriages and the death of his second wife through a heroin overdose, he moved to Britain and invested in his love of all things British.

He gave £50m to both the National Gallery and the British Film Institute.

Other huge donations included £5m to clean and restore the west front of St Paul's Cathedral and £1m to purchase Winston Churchill's papers for the nation.

He leaves a widow, Victoria, and four children.