POP songs and England sporting anthems rang around Oxford Crematorium yesterday as charity fundraiser Robin Chard was laid to rest with a colourful ceremony.

Family and friends told stories about the larger than life 48-year-old and thanked those who had donated money to the JustGiving page he set up up for the RideLondon-Surrey 100 challenge.

Mr Chard, from Bicester, died about 25 miles into the cycle ride on July 31 and his initial target of £700 for Cancer Research UK has since been smashed as £66,000 flooded in.

Mourners entered St John's Chapel at the crematorium in Barton to House of Fun, by Madness.

Paying tribute to her brother, Mr Chard's sister Andrea said: "Above all, I remember he was funny, so funny sometimes he made my cheeks hurt laughing.

"His laugh was infections.

"I remember he was generous, to a fault at times.

"He is going to be missed, Christmas will never be the same again. Life will never be the same again.

"He leaves a big hole in our lives but an amazing legacy.

"The money he has so far raised is no less than mind-boggling."

Many of those at the funeral wore sports shirts and Mr Chard's friend Bob Wernett read the poem Jerusalem, by William Blake.

Mourners left the chapel to Swing Low Sweet Chariot, with Queen's Bicycle Race and The Fields of Athenry by The Dubliners also played at the ceremony.

Mr Chard's daughter Erin spoke of her love for her father and a trip they had taken to her favourite place, Cotswold Wildlife Park, shortly before his death.

She asked those in attendance to send her any photos they had of her father so she could add them to a scrapbook.

In her eulogy, Mr Chard's wife Vickie said: "Robin was a kind and generous man with both time and money, and not just to his friends and family but also to complete strangers.

"On the day of the race before he left he kissed me on the cheek and said 'see you later.'

"I watched him out the window as he got on his bike and cycled off.

"Make sure that you tell those closest to you, be it your spouse, partner, children or closed friends that you love them because you never know when it might be the last time.

"Myself and Robin's family have been overwhelmed by people's generosity and the kind messages and donations we have received."

Mr Chard passed away at Kingston Hospital in London despite receiving immediate medical attention from other riders and medics after he had a cardiac arrest during the race.

He was raising money for Cancer Research UK, as a number of his relatives had died from the disease and he had beaten Hodgkin Lymphoma as a child.

In a tribute read out on behalf of his mother Monika, his bravery during "brutal" cancer treatment was remembered.

His coffin was embossed with the Cancer Research UK logo and mourners were invited to sign it with messages and tributes before a celebration of Mr Chard's life was held at The Nightingale pub in Langford.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Robin-Chard