The villagers saying goodbye to Dame Jilly Cooper

The Reverend Sue Murray says the village "loved" having her as part of the community

Dame Jilly Cooper's fellow Cotswolds villagers have come together to share their memories of the much-loved author following her death at the age of 88 on Sunday.

Bisley village, in Gloucestershire, is mourning the loss of one its most "friendly" characters after she suffered a fall.

The Reverend Sue Murray, vicar of the Benefice of Bisley, said the village was very protective of its famous resident - known for her best-selling novels, including Rivals and Riders, which were set in the fictional county of Rutshire, inspired by the Cotswolds region.

Ms Murray told the BBC: "We knew where she lived, but if anyone came asking where she lived, we'd deny all knowledge."

Ms Murray added: "She was just Jilly. She didn't put any airs and graces, she was part of the community so just like anyone else really.

"We loved having her here."

Dame Jilly's famous novels often portrayed the scandals, sex lives and social circles of the wealthy horse-loving country set.

Rivals, one of her best-known books published in 1988, was recently adapted for television by Disney+ and was part-filmed at the Bottle Yard Studio in Bristol.

Dame Jilly made the village of Bisley her home

Michael Garratt, a neighbour of Dame Jilly's, said the author would join in with "everything" in the community.

He said: "The street parties we've had, and we've had quite a few.

"The village gatherings, and the fete - we have tremendous fetes here - she used to chair it, and speak and always be there."

John and Stella Mulligan say Dame Jilly brought fun and interest to Bisley

Stella Mulligan, another Bisley resident, said Dame Jilly was "always interested in what everybody was doing".

"She meant fun. She meant interest," she said. "You couldn't dislike her."

John Mulligan, Stella's husband, added that Dame Jilly, who was born in Hornchurch, Essex "was somebody who adopted I think, this part of the world as hers".

"She always sort of greeted everybody with great vigour. She was so supportive of anything that the village did."

Andrew Whiting, from the local garage, says Dame Jilly always kept an old car going, despite her wealth

Despite her success, Dame Jilly is said to have been very down-to-earth - especially when it came to her car.

Andrew Whiting, who works at Holbrook Garage, said: "She had the same car from when I first seen her, it was a white polo.

"Year by year, you'd have all the rust building in the bonnet but she was insistent she kept it - you had to get it through the MOT."

He added: "I met her many a time outside of work – I go to Forest Green Football, and she would go to most games, and I sat next to her. She was so friendly."