"Inspirational" Hart laid to rest

Mourners have paid their last respects to the "inspired and inspiring" TV presenter Tony Hart.

Family and friends packed a small Surrey Church in memory of the much-loved artist, who died at the age of 83 on January 18.

PA reports that BBC director and producer Chris Pilkington told the congregation: "Right from the start I was struck by the extraordinary gifts of this gentleman, this artist. He was the first, the pioneer, the magician who used his skills to inspire and empower his eager wide-eyed audience.

"Humble, yet ambitious, enthused, excited, surprised, delighted, self-critical, professional, dedicated, hardworking, an encourager, opening the eye of the audience and giving us all the nudge to have a go."

Hart's daughter Carolyn Ross spoke of her father's loving and caring nature. "I remember being very small and having a bad dream late one night. To comfort me you lifted me out of bed and took me downstairs where you fed me with Heinz tomato soup and read to me from Winnie The Pooh.

"I remember begging you to collect me from school, so that the other children could see that you really were my dad, and you did," she said.

Hart was best known for fronting Take Hart, Vision On and Hart Beat, appearing on children's art programmes for nearly 50 years before retiring in 2001.