Chris Evans said a sombre farewell to one of his best friends, James Ward, at a funeral in their home village of Hascombe, Surrey, on Monday.

The radio and TV presenter was accompanied by his wife, singer Billie Piper, and 300 other mourners who paid their final respects to the pub landlord, who died in a yachting accident.

The couple live near Mr Ward's pub

Evans was also on the boat trip when Mr Ward, who was skipper, was knocked unconscious by a boom and fell overboard on Wednesday, 7 August.

The service included a tribute from Mr Ward's brother, Jonathan, who talked of "a modest man [who] had many qualities".

Afterwards, Evans said: "You've heard it all in the service, I have not got anything to add except that I am very sad about it."

Mr Ward's coffin had been carried through the village in a horse-drawn carriage.

About 120 people packed into the church, while another 200 stood outside listening to the service on loudspeakers.

Coastguards said Mr Ward's death was a tragic accident

Family and friends then went to the White Horse pub, where Mr Ward, 50, had been landlord, for the wake.

Evans owns a �6m mansion in the village, and the White Horse was the scene of one of his legendary drinking sessions when he was absent from his Virgin Radio breakfast show for a week in 2001.

After the accident, Evans said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by his friend's death.

Mr Ward and Evans were sailing with five other people in the Solent, off England's south coast, when the skipper drowned.

Coastguards said it was a tragic accident and there were no suspicious circumstances. Police said alcohol was not a factor.