A TEARFUL Coronation Street star paid tribute to a fellow actor and friend of 30 years Ken Binge.

Mr Binge was a regular at Bolton's Octagon Theatre throughout his acting career and also presented the BBC's popular children's educational programme "Watch" from 1974-78.

Malcolm Hebden, who plays Corrie corner shop busybody Norris Cole, addressed more than 100 of Mr Binge's family and friends at his funeral at Christ Church, Walmsley, yesterday.

Mourners were greeted with a collage of photographs from the height of Mr Binge's career as an actor in the 1970s and 80s, before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1985. London-born Mr Binge, who lived in Barrow Bridge, then gained a BA honours degree in fine arts from Manchester Metropolitan University. He also did voluntary work including reading the news for Newstalk -- Bolton's talking news service for the blind.

He recovered from the brain tumour, but in May last year he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He died last Sunday, aged 56, leaving a wife Rosalyn, daughter Holly, son Leo and granddaughter Emily.

Mr Hebden fought back tears as he talked about when they met at Oldham Coliseum in 1973 when they were in the same play and related touching memories of their subsequent long and close friendship.

He said: "I felt part of the family, I met his wife and children.

"He was truly an extraordinary man. He taught me to be resilient. His passion for acting never left him, even when his career ended because of his illness.

"He was an extremely strong and remarkable man, but even he couldn't have got through this without his family."

Mr Binge's wife Ros and daughter Holly also talked of their memories.

The service included the hymns Dear Lord and Father of Mankind and Lord of the Dance, a recital of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem How Do I Love Thee and Mr Binge's favourite song, Cilla Black's Step Inside Love.

Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Waters accompanied the coffin out of the church for burial.

Floral tributes included a bouquet from the drama department at Canon Slade School, where Mr Binge tutored pupils and prepared them for auditions. It read: "Ken was one of us and we will never forget his support and love."

Another arrangement spelt out DAD, with messages from Mr Binge's son Leo and daughter Holly. Leo's read: "I will never forget you and will always remember what a special person you are."

Holly's read: "Anyone can be a father, but it takes a great man to be a daddy."