By Kevin Bocquet BBC North of England correspondent in Liverpool

On a cold, sunlit morning, mourners gathered to remember the murdered British hostage Ken Bigley.

Among them were members of his family, a few friends and the two senior politicians who played such a dramatic role in the last days of Mr Bigley's life.

Paul Bigley remembered his brother Ken as a "loyal and honest man"

Prime Minister Tony Blair escorted Mr Bigley's 86-year-old mother Lil to her seat in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.

For three weeks in late September and early October, Mr Blair had refused to negotiate with Mr Bigley's kidnappers or to concede to their demands.

Immediately after his murder, members of Mr Bigley's family acknowledged that the prime minister had had no other choice.

'Full life'

Accompanied by the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Centenary Girls' Choir, 10-year-old Hannah Bigley sang the hymn Safe In The Father's Hand in memory of her murdered uncle.

His brother Paul read a testimonial remembering Ken as a loyal and honest man, a private man whose name was known to so many people.

Tony Blair flew back from Washington for the service

"Some friends called him Kenny, most simply called him Ken.

"He was born into this world in 1942 during troubled times and eventually departed during troubled times. But in between Ken lived a full life, experiencing the many joys and sorrows that come with it," said Mr Bigley.

The prime minister read one of the lessons, a passage from Corinthians.

But this was a multi-faith service with hymns and Christian prayers interspersed with readings from the Koran.

That's how the Bigley family wanted it.

Immediately after Ken's death, they had been at pains to emphasise their conviction that the overwhelming majority of Muslims deplored his murder.

Ken Bigley's family endured three weeks of unimaginable torment culminating in his death

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of London, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, paid tribute to the family.

He said: "This city and many, many more thank you for inspiring us not to allow dark days to divide us but, side by side, to recognise God resolutely among us to accomplish a good work."

Ken Bigley's family endured three weeks of unimaginable torment culminating in his death.

Today's service ended with a Buddhist prayer.

"May all beings be free from suffering and the cause of suffering."