Paul O’Grady was reunited with an old friend as a wreath in the shape of his late dog Buster accompanied his coffin (Picture: PA)

Paul O’Grady had an old friend accompany him for his final journey as he was laid to rest at his home in Kent.

The late comedian and presenter died in March at the age of 67, leading to an outpouring of love and tributes on social media.

This love was seen on Thursday as hundreds lines the streets to bid farewell to the Lily Savage star, with both fans and celebrity friends arriving to pay their respects.

And, as everyone knows, O’Grady had plenty of non-human friends, renowned for being a major animal lover and adopting many dogs to give them a better life.

Of these, one of O’Grady’s favourites, and most famous companion, was his faithful pup Buster, who died in 2009.

Buster had often joined O’Grady on his teatime show The Paul O’Grady Show, and the presenter famously made the heartbreaking announcement on that show that his old friend had died.

Buster was a regular guest on O’Grady’s teatime show, and the presenter announced his death during a heartbreaking episode (Picture: Shutterstock)

Hundreds throned the streets to bid farewell to O’Grady, who died in March aged 67 (Picture: PA)

He said at the time that Buster was ‘riddled with cancer’ and ‘the kindest thing for me to do was let him go, but it was the worst thing I could ever do in my life.’

‘But it had to be done because otherwise it would have been selfish.’

Now the pair have been reunited in a sweet tribute, which fans noticed as O’Grady’s coffin arrived to the Aldington ceremony by horse and cart.

Inside the hearse, looking out at the crowds, was a white flower wreath made in the shape of Buster, wearing a collar bearing the pup’s name.

O’Grady had described making the choice to put Buster to sleep as ‘the kindest thing’ but ‘the worst thing’ (Picture: PA)

O’Grady’s husband Andre sat atop the horse-drawn cart with one of the couple’s other dogs, as the comedian was led to his final resting place (Picture: SWNS)

The poignant image broke hearts across the nation as images of the funeral made their way across social media, with one asking: ‘How can something be so lovely and devastating at the same time?’

Another said the flower tribute has ‘bloody upset me, I can’t believe Paul O’Grady is gone.’

And as one put it: ‘So beautiful. So moving. So fitting.’

Buster died at the age of 14 in 2009, and the pair were reunited at O’Grady’s funeral on Friday (Picture: PA)

Emotional scenes stretched all the way from Kent to O’Grady’s home town of Birkehnhead, where Merseyside residents remembered his keen sense of humour – and love of dogs – by singing along to Who Let The Dogs Out.

Many also brought along their own dogs to the bittersweet event.

Back in Kent, the streets of Aldington were thronged with members of the public who came out to pay their respects.

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His private funeral service was held at St Rumwold’s Parish Church in the village of Bonnington and was attended by the likes of LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and TV presenter Gaby Roslin. 

Personal notes from O’Grady’s family were left outside the church attached to wreaths of lilies ahead of the service.

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MORE : Paul O’Grady fans share pictures of their dogs paying homage on the day of his funeral

MORE : Paul O’Grady celebrated in his home town Birkenhead with hundreds of revellers singing Who Let The Dogs Out? in his honour

What a gorgeously heartbreaking tribute.