Jimmy Savile buried looking out to sea

The family of Sir Jimmy Savile today fixed his final wish, to be buried at a 45-degree angle overlooking the sea in his beloved Scarborough.

The broadcasting legend chose the most elevated position in the peaceful Woodlands Cemetery, in the North Yorkshire town, for its spectacular sea view.

But as the star's gold-coloured coffin was carefully lowered into the grave this afternoon, all that could be seen through the mist was the ghostly shape of Scarborough Castle in the distance.

The weather did not deter the hundreds of well-wishers who turned out to pay their respects to Sir Jimmy, who was a Freeman of the Borough of Scarborough.

The veteran DJ, who died last month at his flat in Leeds just two days before his 85th birthday, made his final journey through his "second home", starting at his flat on the Esplanade.

As the cortege made its way on to the Foreshore, the funeral director got out of the hearse and slowly walked the cars along the seafront.

The people lined up along the road filled with amusement arcades and seaside shops burst into applause as the coffin passed by.

The Futurist theatre paid its own tribute to one of Scarborough's best-loved celebrities by putting "Goodbye Jimmy" on its show board.

The cortege continued past the lifeboat station and harbour, where Sir Jimmy used to mix with the lifeboat men and fishermen, and Peasholm Park before arriving at the cemetery.

Around 100 members of the public gathered in the cemetery to watch the short burial service.

Sir Jimmy's family and friends stood next to the grave, some wearing specially-made badges reading "Jim Fixed It For Me".

The DJ's niece, Mandy McKenna, gave a reading by the grave before Father Martin Kelly, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Leeds, paid tribute.

The priest said Sir Jimmy, who raised millions for charity and ran more than 200 marathons in support of good causes, was "a man who had a place deep in people's hearts".

He said: "These past days have spoken of the great affection with which Jimmy Savile was held by so many."

After the coffin was lowered into the grave in its elevated position, friends and family members threw white roses - the symbol of Yorkshire - on to the casket.

Members of the public were then invited to the graveside to pay their respects, including Dave Bishop, 67, from Nottingham, who attended the burial dressed as Elvis.

Mr Bishop, who also goes by the name Lord Biro of the Bus Pass Elvis Party, said: "Jimmy Savile was a big Elvis fan so it seemed like the right thing to do to come and pay my respects."

Sir Jimmy was buried with his Royal Marines green beret and medal, rosary beads and Help For Heroes wristband.

Today's burial marked the third and final day of the broadcasting star's funeral.

Yesterday, TV and radio colleagues joined Sir Jimmy's family and friends in St Anne's Cathedral, Leeds, for a two-hour Requiem Mass as thousands of well-wishers watched outside on big screens.

And on Tuesday, around 5,000 people paid their respects when his coffin was displayed in the Queens Hotel in the city.

Sir Jimmy started his working life as a miner before running a series of clubs and working as a wrestler and then a DJ.

He went on to present the first and last episodes of Top Of The Pops.

After today's funeral, Roger Foster, Sir Jimmy's nephew, said the epitaph for his uncle's headstone had not yet been decided.

But he said it could feature what would become the larger-than-life DJ's last catchphrase: "It was good while it lasted."

PA