The grieving husband of charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson said at her funeral yesterday he was humbled to have known her as he paid tribute to her "phenomenal" achievements.

Mike Tomlinson broke down in tears as he delivered an emotional eulogy at his wife's Catholic funeral Mass.

Mrs Tomlinson lost her seven-year battle with terminal cancer last week, aged 43.

The mother-of-three defied doctors who gave her only months to live after her diagnosis in 2000 and raised more than £1.75m through a series of gruelling endurance events.

Hundreds of mourners, as well as charity bosses and leading figures from sport and television gathered at St Anne's Cathedral in Leeds.

About 1,000 mourners assembled in the city's Millennium Square, where the service was shown live on a big screen.

Mr Tomlinson's voice cracked as he delivered a tribute to his wife, detailing her achievements, her battle with cancer and her love for her family.

"Her athletic achievements quite rightly marked Jane out as being unique," he said.

"But for Jane, it is her family that she cherished beyond all else. She was immensely proud of all three children. They brought her unimaginable joy. It was this love for them that drove her on to having chemo after chemo. In the last year, she had the joy of seeing her first grandchild, Emily, being born.

"Words seem insufficient to describe how painful the loss of Jane has been to us.

"Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven and I are heartbroken and the gap in our hearts immense.

"I feel truly humbled to have known Jane.

"That she shared her life with me, I can say only 'How lucky am I?"'

Breaking down in tears, Mr Tomlinson said: "Jane, on behalf of Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven, we love you deeply, thanks for all the fabulous memories, they will last a lifetime."

Earlier, there was spontaneous applause from the hundreds of people outside the cathedral as the cortege drew up outside the front of the building.

Mr Tomlinson looked composed but grim-faced as he and his three children, Steven, ten, Rebecca, 19 and Suzanne, 21, were met by the Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Arthur Roche.