HUNDREDS of people crammed into Worcester Cathedral to pay their last respects to esteemed solicitor Martyn Morgan whose sudden death rocked the Worcestershire and West Midlands law scene.

Mr Morgan, head of QualitySolicitors Talbots - which has offices in Kidderminster and Stourport, died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on December 10 after a short illness.

The 60-year-old from Hagley, who had run the London and New York marathons and completed numerous charity cycling challenges, was described as the "heartbeat of the business" by practice director Rachel Pardoe and news of his death left family, friends and colleagues stunned.

Such was the popularity of the residential property specialist that around 800 people packed into Worcester Cathedral for his funeral on Wednesday (January 6) - leaving standing room only.

Mr Morgan's elder brother - journalist and author Robin Morgan - paid a moving tribute after the service which he said "people travelled from continents" to attend.

He told the News: "Martyn’s reputation was immense. He regarded everyone, from colleagues to clients, as his extended family. He left no-one in his wake.

"The outpouring of love, affection and respect paid to him at Worcester Cathedral was overwhelming and it turned a sorrowful day into a celebration of a great life, lived to the full, for others.

"Martyn woke up every morning at dawn and bounced out of the house with only one thing on his mind - what could he achieve with the day ahead, for his clients, for his colleagues, for his family and for his friends.

"He made us all want to be better fathers, brothers, friends and workmates.

"We all felt his presence in the cathedral. That’s how powerful was his personality. It was as if he was standing there with us all, at our shoulders, whispering his fabled, irreverent sense of humour into our ears to heckle and jest as the tributes were read. Martyn lit up a room when he walked into it and the joy he brought into people’s lives lit up the cathedral too.

"With the tears there was much laughter at the memory of his love of life - and he would have so wanted the laughter to drown out the tears.

"If he could have choreographed the event himself it would undoubtedly have included some very inappropriate practical jokes. It’s why he was so loved and admired. He was my younger brother but he was also my hero."

Mr Morgan, who became a solicitor in 1977 and took over at Talbots in 1991, leaves a wife Mary, daughters Abby, Charli, Danielle, Hannah and son Ben.

Donations made at his funeral will go to Stourbridge's Chris Westwood Charity for children with physical disabilities.

Mr Morgan was one of the founding trustees of the organisation set up by friend Chris Westwood and he'd helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the cause.

Anyone still wishing to make a donation in his memory can send cheques, payable to the Chris Westwood Charity, to QualitySolicitors Talbots, 63 Market Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1AQ.

Staff at the firm, which employs nearly 200 people across seven offices across the Black Country and Worcestershire, have pledged to do all they can to ensure Mr Morgan's vision lives on and that Talbots remains one of the top law firms in the West Midlands and keeps its commitment to delivering high quality legal services locally.