FRIENDS and family have said their final goodbyes to popular Roger Lewis, of Rudford, Newent.

The coffin of Mr Lewis, who died on December 28 at the age of 82, was carried into the village church by a horse and trolley during his funeral on Saturday.

Known for his hedge laying, corn doll making and walking stick manufacturing, Mr Lewis was known to lots of people in the village and will be missed by many.

His sister Jessie Williams, who also lives in Rudford, said: "Lots of people knew him, he lived in Rudford for more than 60 years you see.

"He was born in Presteigne, in Wales, and our parents moved into the county in 1938. Our father was a gamekeeper and he moved down here for work."

There were three siblings in all but Mr Lewis' other sister Brenda died four years ago.

Mrs Williams said her brother was best known for his work on the hedges in the village.

"He was a craftsman his whole life. I think he laid his first hedge at the age of 10 and stopped when he was in his 70s," she said. "He had his own plough but he borrowed other people's horses as he didn't have his own.

"He also made corn dolls and walking sticks, mainly for his own enjoyment, although I think he did sell the odd few."

Mr Lewis never married and had no children but was an uncle to Mrs Williams' three children.

She said: "We were a close family and we went to see him fairly often.

"He will be sadly missed, that's for sure."

Mr Lewis' coffin was carried into St Mary's Church in Rudford by horse and trolley on Saturday at 11am.

His coffin entered the church to a recording of Mr Lewis's own singing.

Hymns Lead us Heavenly Father lead Us and We Plough the Field and Scatter were among those sang by a congregation of between 60 and 80 people.