A leading consultant psychiatrist was praised for his integrity and loyalty at his funeral service.

Dr Tony Whitehead loved to champion the underdog and dedicated his career to campaigning for better care and treatment for the elderly and prisoners.

Friends and relatives packed St Wulfran's Church, Oving-dean, Brighton, yesterday for the service during which the congregation heard of his many achievements and campaigns for patient care.

His coffin was adorned in leeks and daffodils as a token of his Welsh background.

He was born in Powys, Wales, and described as a passionate Welshman despite his love for Sussex, which he made his home for 25 years.

He died on January 23, aged 77, at Brighton General Hospital, where he had worked for much of his life.

He was nationally-acknowledged as an expert in mental illness among the elderly and pioneered improvements in their care and treatment.

During the service, attended by NHS colleagues as well as friends and family, former Kemp Town MP Sir Andrew Bowden paid a special tribute to Dr Whitehead.

Sir Andrew spoke of the doctor's integrity and loyalty and called him a "compassionate and unselfish" man.

He spoke of Dr Whitehead's devotion to charities, including Ardis, which campaigned to build an Alzheimer's disease unit in Bevendean, Aegis, a charity fighting for better conditions in psychiatric hospitals, mental health group Mind and prisoners' rights group, Prop.

He recalled how Dr Whitehead raised £1,000 in the Eighties for Ardis, of which he was former chairman, by pushing a Flymo from London to Brighton.

Canon Andrew Mayes, who led the service, said Dr Whitehead was "always on the side of the patient" and believed "a joke and a hug are more important than a tranquilliser".

Dr Whitehead served in the RAF before working all over the UK as a psychiatrist.

He lectured in Britain, Belgium, Canada and the United States, wrote medical books and short stories and appeared on television and radio.

He was a strong believer in the NHS.

Affectionately known as Motormouth, he believed in liberty and free speech.

Dr Whitehead leaves his children, Anthony, Jonathan and Paula, and grandson James.

Anthony Whitehead said following the service: "He was a very passionate man to the end."

He pointed out he spent the last moments of his life in the very hospital in which he had spent much of his working life.