Tributes have been left for a well-loved businessman who died earlier this year, whose funeral ‘gridlocked’ Bungay as over 400 people attended.

Nicholas Whyte was a hairdresser who opened more than 20 of his own salons across Norfolk and Suffolk.

He died of cancer, aged 59, earlier this year.

His brother Chris Whyte said: "He was a good lad, he was sporty. We played golf and squash together and tennis at the club. He was a sporty guy who loved his cars and music.

"He was also a very good businessman who had a lot of interest in hairdressing."

Mr Whyte had three brothers and a sister and originally worked as hairdresser in Norwich, where he became the manager of a salon in Jarrold's.

This was before deciding to branch out with his partner and start his own businesses - the Cutting Garden salons.

His first business was opened in Bungay in the 1980s, before another was opened in Harleston with his wife and business partner. At his most successful, Mr Whyte had opened 24 salons spanning from Peterborough to Acle.

His brother said: "Nick lived his life to the full, he did say to me he had a fabulous life. At the funeral the eulogy showed that.

"It was read out by my cousin John who did very well, it was full of stories Nick would tell of him having nights out down in London and having a good time with his friends together. Nick especially enjoyed his holidays."

Over 400 people attended Mr Whyte's funeral, with one attendee posting on Facebook that St Mary's church "was bursting at the seams and the centre of Bungay was gridlocked. What a send off for this vibrant, very likeable Bungay born man."

Chris Whyte added: "It was quite amazing, it surprised all of us, all of his family, friends and business associates showed up.

"We has a wake at Bungay Golf Club, and we didn't cater for enough people. There were well over 200 people at the wake.

Nick Whyte is survived by his partner, Sharon and his 32-year-old son Dominic and 29-year-old daughter Francesca.