The life and work of a "truly inspirational man" was remembered on Friday at a funeral service in Helston attended by 300 people.

A quiet and unassuming pillar of the community, Derek Wear was perhaps best known for two main things: working in the town for 48 years in electrical shop Upex through to its evolution as ETS, and setting up weekly meals for the homeless.

It was this latter service that saw him be named Helston Citizen of the Year in 2015 in a publicly-nominated award scheme run by then-mayor Mike Thomas.

At the time Mr Thomas described Mr Wear as "a truly inspirational man," after he and his wife Ann begun organising free breakfasts for the homeless at the town's Methodist church every Wednesday morning, in 2013.

This has since developed into Monday evening meals also, as well as providing shower facilities, replacement clothes and emergency food rations at the chapel, working alongside the Rev Danny Reed.

Mr Wear was inspired to set up a facility to help Helston's homeless community after seeing a number of people sleeping rough on benches while carrying out a paper round.

Although he had to stop helping out at the meals six months ago, when he became too ill, Mr Wear's wife Ann said: "We did love doing it. Derek would sit and talk to them, never asking them their business just sitting there chatting. They loved him."

Mr Wear, who was born and bred in Helston, growing up in a house just off Meneage Street, spent much of his time helping out at the chapel, carrying out odd jobs, and could otherwise be found in his garden in Beacon Parc.

Ann said: "He liked to be in the background. He was a very quiet man, he did things quietly. But if anybody asked him to do anything he would never say no. He was very community minded and very respected."

Flora Day was his favourite time of the year and he even led the Midday Dance one year.

He and Ann have three daughters, Deborah, Karen and Andrea, plus six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

His five grandsons were bearers at his funeral service, which took place at the Central Methodist Church Helston and was led by Rev Danny and included a eulogy from Martin Matthews.

Donations were taken in lieu of flowers, in aid of the chapel, and an estimated 300 people attended, with Mrs Wear saying: "If people took time to send cards and go to the funeral it shows what great respect they had for Derek."

Mr Wear died at home on December 19 aged 74, from mesothelioma, a cancer caused through exposure to asbestos.

His wife said Rev Danny came to visit him every night during his illness and was also full of praise for his GP, Dr Ruth Faulkner from Helston Medical Centre, who visited three times a week on the days she worked, not to treat him but just to chat with him.