CROWDS of people touched by the life of York councillor Peter Dodd packed in to St Olave's Church for a service of thanksgiving for him.

Peter was the man chosen to be this year's Lord Mayor of York but died last week at the age of 61, following a fight against cancer.

The Labour councillor, who had served Monk Ward on City of York Council since 1995, was forced by his illness to resign in April, only a month before he was due to become Lord Mayor.

But yesterday's service focused on Peter the Anglican priest and former army and hospital chaplain, the loving family man and the friend who earned respect from everyone he met.

Extra seating had to be brought in to St Olave's, on Marygate, to accommodate those who gathered to remember him.

His widow Brenda wrote a moving preface to the Order of Service, saying: "Peter brought love, humour, common sense and compassion to all his activities.

"If you respect and honour his memory now, we would ask you to remember his vocation as a priest and spend some time and thought examining the faith which was his life, and which came before everything.

"Maybe in this way he can continue to influence what happens in our lives and bring Christ a little closer to each one of us."

St Olave's was thronged with visiting clergy and with several members of the City of York Council, including council leader Rod Hills and former Lord Mayor Peter Vaughan. Peter played a vital role as vice-chairman of the city's education committee.

Mr Dodd was with his family at home when he died on Sunday, August 20. He leaves Brenda, daughters Ruth and Sarah, son Stavros and grandson Andreas.