Inspector Morse fan Beverley Blunden was buried with a video of the hit detective show's final episode and a letter from its star, John Thaw.

Beverley, 36, from Hove died at the town's Martlets Hospice after fighting breast cancer for more than three years.

She had been a fan of Inspector Morse since day one and had watched every episode.

Husband Andrew said she desperately wanted to survive long enough to see last night's final show of the series, The Remorseful Day.

But she died on November 2, 12 days before John Thaw's character was killed by a heart attack.

Her funeral took place at St Helen's Church, Hangleton, where she was married 12 years ago.

The family, including daughters Velvet, nine, and Victoria, four, was joined by more than 200 mourners.

Beverley was such a big fan of the show that she had planned to name their first child Morse if it was a boy.

Mr Blunden, 38, of Sunninghill Avenue, wrote to Carlton TV and explained how much of a fan of the series his wife was.

He said: "At first they must have thought I was a bit of a crank and it took a lot of persuading.

"But in the end they sent a sealed copy of the final episode for us to put in the coffin before it had been screened.

"With it was a letter from John Thaw, who she adored because he was such a gentleman.

"It was marvellous that he wrote to us. He was obviously touched by her age and because of our two young children."

Mr Thaw's letter to the family was read out during the funeral service.

It said: "I was very sorry indeed to hear of Beverley's death and wanted to send my condolences.

"I was very touched to hear of her devotion to the Inspector Morse series and know how upset you must be that she died before the transmission of the final film.

"I hope that having a tape of this film will be a little consolation to you at this time.

"Please pass on my condolences to your daughters and the rest of your family."

Mr Blunden, who runs his own ceramic tiling business said: "Beverley was such a wonderful and courageous person. She never once complained or was bitter about what was happening to her.

"We raised more than £2,500 doing a sponsored walk for The Marlets because they were so marvellous to her. Beverley managed the six miles.

"The Argus came along to take a picture of her there when we presented the cheque.

"Beverley want to be in it because she wanted to publicise the work they do. But she was so ill she could not manage to sit in a chair for the picture. She died the next day."