A man whose lifetime of community service to Sheringham saw him made an MBE has died aged 78.

Bryan Pigott was involved in youth, council, carnival, charity and church work as well as running a business in the town.

His recent efforts saw him raising funds for cancer charities having been diagnosed with malignant skin melanoma in 1989.

Mr Pigott's community work began in his teens when he was chairman of the North Norfolk Council of Youth trying to improve facilities for local youngsters.

He ran a hardware and ironmongery shop in Station Road with his late brother Mike from 1949 to 1981 and chaired the chamber of trade for several years.

From 1962-67 he ran Sheringham carnival and started the Shannicoat Lane charity street fair. This year he was involved in staging an exhibition showcasing the carnival's history.

For several years he served on the Sheringham Urban District Council and in the early 1970s was voluntary manager of the town's Little Theatre.

Since the 1980s he had been heavily involved with St Peter's Parish church, organising events and concerts for church and charity funds. He was also involved in the Christmas tree festival and the Evergreens senior citizens luncheon club.

When he was made an MBE for his community work in the 2000 New Year's honours list he said 'I have done a lot for the town, and led from the front, but it would not have happened without hard-working teams behind me.'

Friend for more than 50 years Mike Crowe said: 'Bryan was always so reliable, and did everything to what he considered perfection. If a job came up he was say 'I'll get a team to do it' and you would not have to worry any more about it.'

Mr Pigott, who died suddenly on November 18, leaves a widow Ruby and daughter Shelley. A funeral is being held at the parish church on Monday November 29 with donations for Big C through funeral directors Blyth and Sons.