Sir Jimmy Savile lies in state at Leeds hotel

The coffin of broadcasting legend Sir Jimmy Savile arrived at a hotel in his home city today where he will lie in state before his funeral.

The gold-coloured casket, featuring a crucifix, was taken to The Queens Hotel in Leeds in a hearse and carried into the building along a red carpet.

Members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the larger-than-life DJ in the bar of the hotel for most of the day.

Today is the first of three days of celebrations marking Sir Jimmy's life.

A funeral service in the form of a Requiem Mass at the Roman Catholic St Anne's Cathedral will take place tomorrow afternoon.

Sir Jimmy's cortege is expected to arrive at the cathedral following a tour of places in the city which were important in his life.

The TV and radio star, who died last month aged 84, will be buried the following day in the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough, which he loved and where he also had a flat.

His family have confirmed this will also be a public event including a final drive down the town's seafront.

The veteran DJ, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim'll Fix It, was found dead at his flat in Roundhay, Leeds, just two days before his 85th birthday.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the tributes.

Known for his trademark catchphrases, tracksuits, cigars and tinted glasses, friends and colleagues described Sir Jimmy as a "larger than life" character who was dedicated to charity work.

He started his working life as a miner in his native Yorkshire before running a series of clubs and working as a wrestler and DJ.

He raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.

PA