Roger Brunt, the man who taught ex-Formula One world champion and Frome hero Jenson Button how to drive, has been honoured by the people of his home village as he was laid to rest.

With umbrellas covering their heads, the people of Southwick lined the road and clapped as Roger was driven away.

Driving instructor Roger, who was 73 when he passed away, taught hundreds of people how to get through their tests for nearly forty years including Button, who came to him because of his friendship with Jenson's father, John.

He was regularly seen in The Farmhouse having a pint, and the pub's joint licensee Mrs Janet Harris said: "Roger was a lovely character. He used to sit on the end of the bar with his friend.

"I am a local person and he taught my grand-daughter to drive a few years ago. He was a really lovely man."

Roger knew Button Snr through his days as a competitive motor-racing driver in which he became a champion before turning his skills to sitting in the passenger seat teaching others how to take the wheel.

'Brunty', as he was known when racing and which was written in roses on the side of his coffin this afternoon, struggled with kidney cancer towards the end of his life but worked hard to raise money for charities Lady In Red and Bath Cancer Support Group.

With family, friends and residence of Southwick and beyond standing in the pouring rain, Roger was brought into the car park of The Farmhouse Inn to be taken to Semington Crematorium with his coffin covered in a skull and crossbones flag which he used on his cars when in competitive action to symbolise the Jolly Roger.