
Hundreds of travellers have descended on suburban Surrey for the funeral of TV personality Paddy Doherty's father.

Mourners joined the Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Celebrity Big Brother star to say goodbye to Simon Doherty, remembered as the 'father of all travellers', at a service at St Michael's Church in Ashtead.

More than a dozen silver Rolls Royces, each bearing the Irish tricolour, lined up outside the church. Mr Doherty's coffin was emblazoned with the colours of the Irish flag and the message: 'Simon Doherty - blacksmith, King of all Dohertys'.

Mr Doherty, known as 'Simey', was a father-of-15 and is said to have had more than 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Paddy Doherty rode his father Simon's horse-drawn hearse through north London today as he laid his father to rest

The procession was followed by a series of identical silver Rolls Royce cars carrying Mr Doherty's family and friends

A fleet of Rolls Royces at the funeral of Simon Doherty, father of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Star Paddy Doherty today

Paddy Doherty (left with funeral director Paul Brown) said his father (right) wanted everyone to get drunk at his send-off

Irish dancers performing during the funeral service at St Michael's Catholic Church in Ashtead, Surrey today

Mourners gather at the church today. Some close family wore red, Mr Doherty's favourite colour, for the service

Paddy Doherty said: 'He was like Mafia in his own way, not in a bad way - any trouble they would go to him.

'He was like the godfather - what he said was law. He said I want no one crying at my funeral, I want them happy, singing and get them drunk.'

The 58-year-old former bare knuckle fighter sat with his hand resting on his father's coffin throughout the service and tributes, which included video footage of Mr Doherty senior in a horse race and a group of Irish dancers.

'He wasn't an average man - he was outstanding, a great man,' he added.

'Everything had to be five stars for him, he lived the best and was the best. My poor mother - her heart is devastated, her heart is broken.

'I'm so grateful how many people have turned out - we just want everything to go well, everything has to be tremendous and over the top.'

Thousands of mourners are expected to attend a procession through north London after the service

Mr Doherty's coffin was painted in the colours of the Irish flag and adorned with the words: 'Blacksmith, King of all Doherty's'

Paddy Doherty rested his hand on the coffin during the service, during which others stood and remembered his father

Mr Doherty with his hand on his father's coffin. He said his mother is 'heartbroken' and 'devastated' at the death

TV star Paddy Doherty during the burial of his father Simon Doherty at St Margaret's Catholic Cemetery, London

The coffin was driven to the cemetery in a horse and carriage and carried up a red carpet to the sound of bagpipes.

Close family members wore red ties, Mr Doherty's favourite colour, which they threw into his grave at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Kensal Green, north London.

Floral tributes were laid at the grave in the shape of an Irish shamrock, horseshoes, bottles of whisky, pint of Guinness and a Rolls Royce.

Green shamrock balloons and six white doves were released into the air as laments were sung at the graveside.

The great-grandfather, who was in his 80s, died in hospital in Epsom last week surrounded by his family after battling an ongoing illness.

Roisin Mullins paid tribute to Simon Doherty, the father of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy, during the service

Huge wreaths were brought into church, this one in the shape of a shamrock with the words 'Rest in peace, my brother, my legend'

This floral tribute, in Mr Doherty's favourite colour red, hailed him as the 'King of Travellers'

A young boy reaches out to a huge crown-shaped tribute to Simon Doherty at St Margaret's Catholic Cemetery

A fleet of Rolls Royce cars outside St Michael's Catholic Church in Ashtead, Surrey for the funeral of Simon Doherty

Floral tributes at St Michael's Catholic Church in Ashtead, Surrey, where the funeral of Simon Doherty

Floral tributes at St Michael's Catholic Church in Ashtead, Surrey, where the funeral of Simon Doherty, the father of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, took place

This floral tribute, in the shape of a four leaf clover, read: 'Rest in peace my brother my legend'