Funeral for Troggs frontman Reg Presley

Up to 200 people have attended the funeral of Reg Presley, lead singer with 1960s British rock band The Troggs.

Presley, a former bricklayer, died aged 71 in his home town of Andover, earlier this month.

Among those to attend the funeral were Slade frontman Noddy Holder and Bruce Welch of The Shadows.

The Troggs' hit song Wild Thing and Sting's Fields of Gold featured at the service at Basingstoke Crematorium.

During the service, Presley was described as an "extraordinary man who enriched the lives of all who knew him", by civil celebrant Lesley Nash.

"He was a brilliant and very supportive and loving dad to Jason and Karen who taught them you can do anything you put your mind to," added Mrs Nash.

She also said he as an "unlikely rock star", whose family and home in Andover were a "hugely important part of his life".

Born Reginald Ball in 1941, Presley founded The Troggs in the early 1960s.

He had announced his retirement from music a year ago after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

It is believed he had also suffered a number of strokes in recent years.

Mrs Nash said his son described him as "the most unfamous famous person there has ever been".

Presley met his wife of 50-years, Brenda, at a dance in Andover.

"That very first night Reg asked Brenda to marry him and was undaunted when she retorted 'But you don't even know me'," Mrs Nash said.

"He always said it was love at first sight and in the fullness of time proved he made an excellent choice."

The Troggs' other hits included Love Is All Around in 1967, which became a huge hit for Wet Wet Wet in the 1990s after it featured in the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral.

The song, which was also played during the service, remained at number one in the UK for 15 weeks, and the royalties Presley earned from it allowed him to pursue his interest in crop circles and UFOs.

The singer published a book on the paranormal, Wild Things They Don't Tell Us, in 2002.

Presley's grandson Guy also read a poem called Empty Chair during the service and the family asked for donations to be made to The Stroke Association and The Countess of Brecknock Hospice Trust.