Cawthorne's Maize Maze creator Jim Williams was taken to his funeral in a chariot fit for a farmer - a trailer pulled by his beloved 'Little Grey Fergie' tractor.

The 54-year-old farmer died on July 15 after losing an 18-month battle with cancer.

His funeral was held on Tuesday at All Saints' Church, Cawthorne, and the unusual idea for his coffin to be taken there by tractor was all Jim's.

"We planned his funeral together before his death," said his wife Sarah.

"He asked the undertaker if he could be taken to the church on a trailer pulled by the 'Little Grey Fergie'.

"This was his grandfather's tractor that was used to haul coal up to their nursery in Herefordshire to heat the greenhouses.

"It was given to Jim for his 40th birthday and he spent most afternoons during the maze season taking visitors on tractor and trailer rides up to our farm to see the cows and calves, giving visitors a real insight into farming."

Despite his illness, Jim wanted the maze and the business at Jowett House Farm to continue as normal, said Sarah.

"He was a very brave man, who fought the illness in such a positive manner, still planning for the future," she said.

"We even held farm meetings around his bedside only last month, organising solar panels to go on the cattle shed roof."

Sarah said her husband was very proud of his three children Edward, 26, David, 24, and Kate, 20, who all worked hard last week to have the Maize Maze ready to open on time last Saturday.

Jim took over Jowett House Farm in the village 20 years ago after working for many years as a farm manager.

Over the last few years it has become a popular tourist attraction thanks to the Maize Maze.

Sarah hopes people will still go along and have great fun getting lost in the four-acre maze field which this year has been cut in the shape of a bumblebee.