11 January 2013 Last updated at 16:30

Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson's funeral held

Gerry Anderson with two of the original puppets from Thunderbirds

Gerry Anderson pictured with the original puppets of Parker and Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds. The TV series first aired in 1965 with the action shot in a studio at Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire.

Melvin Jarvis drove his replica of FAB1 - modelled on Lady Penelope's pink Rolls Royce - from Leicestershire to Gerry Anderson's funeral at Reading Crematorium.

Members of the Gerry Anderson fan society Fanderson compiled the order of service for the funeral, which included archive pictures from the TV series he helped create.

Fans travelled great distances to be at the funeral. Mother and son Robert and Maria Zyderveld travelled further than most from the Netherlands.

Floral tributes on top of the coffin were inspired by Thunderbirds, including one shaped as Thunderbird 2.

The service at Reading Crematorium chapel was relayed on speakers to fans and former colleagues outside with more than 250 people attending.

Gerry Anderson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2010 - a condition which worsened in the months before his death. Son Jamie (pictured right) spoke at the funeral of his pride in how his father faced up to the disease. He said: "He tackled it head-on and spoke very publicly on how it had affected his life."

England

Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson's funeral held

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