A private funeral for O'Grady, who died on 28 March, will follow the procession through the village of Aldington in Kent.

Dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home will form a guard of honour for the service, recognising his extensive work as an ambassador for the charity.

Some dogs could be seen wearing jackets identifying them as being from the home, with the phrase "rescue is best", as mourners gathered on Thursday.

O'Grady rehomed five dogs from Battersea while he filmed Paul O'Grady: For The Love Of Dogs and more than £270,000 has been raised for the charity since his death.

Crowds gathered in the village, where O'Grady lived for more than 20 years, from mid-morning on Thursday.

Many brought their dogs. One pup in a pram had a photo of O'Grady with a dog with the message "Thank you".

Others wore T-shirts featuring pictures of dogs.

Pupils from Aldington Primary School displayed a collage of dog drawings they had done inside a large heart.

A bake sale was being organised outside the Walnut Tree pub with proceeds going to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

O'Grady, who rose to fame as his drag alter ego Lily Savage before going on to host a string of television programmes, died "unexpectedly but peacefully" at his home on 28 March at the age of 67.