DOZENS gathered to pay their respects to a friendly moggy who helped bereaved families at a crematorium.

Ashley the cat had lived at Worthing Crematorium for the best part of 16 years, comforting those who needed it, and bringing a smile to the faces of staff there.

He had been championed by former manager Marian Down, who sadly died recently, shortly after retirement from the bereavement service.

So friends of Marian and friends of Ashley gathered at the Muntham Chapel at the crematorium to remember them.

The service was led by Rev Sarah Jane Boden, and included hymns, prayers and songs from the musical Aristocats.

She said there were occasions when Ashley’s appearance helped her and saved her services.

“He was very loved and will be sadly missed. He touched people’s hearts and gave them comfort at such difficult times,” she said.

Bereavement services manager Kate Greening said she first encountered Ashley when she was on her way to a job interview at the crematorium.

She said: “I saw Ashley in the private garden sleeping. I thought it was really lovely to have a cat in a place where people need a bit of solace. It was a place that I would like to work in because of him.

“A lot of people saw him as a sign from their loved ones, he always seemed to turn up when people needed him the most.

“I think that was what was particularly special about him, people come here for sad reasons, he knew when people needed extra comfort.”

Among those who attended was Hayley Kimpton from Worthing. She said: “He made the whole thing of coming up here to visit relatives easier.”

Ex-serviceman Chris Merrett said: “He was a friendly little cat, he always seemed to come over to all the cars as they pulled over.”

Celebrant Claire Bradford said: “Ashley seemed to be exactly where everybody needed him.

“You would not see him for a lot of the time, but he would be there. There was one funeral where a little boy called Ashley was upset about his grandmother, but seeing Ashley the cat really helped.”

Worthing’s deputy mayor Cllr Hazel Thorpe said the council had ensured Ashley was looked after, and now hopes the crematorium will find a new cat.