People are choosing to make their final farewell an upbeat affair, as Monty Python’s "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" has been named the most popular song played at funerals.

A study by The Co-operative Funeralcare found that the tune has superseded Frank Sinatra’s "I Did It My Way" for the first time in a decade.

Meanwhile, traditional hymns, football anthems and classic pop songs continue to top the list of the “funeral music chart”, with "The Lord is My Shepherd", the Match of the Day theme tune and Robbie Williams’ "Angels" featuring in the top 10.

A study of songs played at 30,000 funerals showed that Elvis Presley is the most requested solo singer, while the most popular group is Queen with requested tracks including "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "Don’t Stop Me Now".

Additionally,an increasing number of songs written by the deceased are being played.

David Collingwood, operations director of The Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “We think we may be seeing a generational shift in attitudes towards funerals, and the choice of music being requested.

"Music plays such an important part in people's lives that it now acts as the theme tune to their passing. Modern funerals are very much about personal choice, which can be reflected in the choice of music, dress, coffin, flowers, hearses or memorials."

The top 10 funeral songs

1. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Eric Idle , from Monty Python's 1983 film Meaning of Life

2. The Lord is My Shepherd - Psalm

3. Abide with Me

4. Match of the Day theme

5. My Way - Frank Sinatra

6. All Things Bright and Beautiful

7. Angels - Robbie Williams

8. Enigma Variations - Nimrod Elgar

9. You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers (adopted by fans of Liverpool FC, and Celtic)