THE high regard in which sporting champion Mike Pyke was held was evident as the community turned out to salute the wheelchair wonder.

Cancer victim Mike, 35, -- who took on and beat the world at weighlifting -- was buried last Friday at Tyldesley Cemetery following his death at his Hindsford home.

A cross-section of people paid their respects at a service in St George's Church where mourners included other sporting celebrities.

Such as marathon runner Steve Redford -- like Mike a Leigh lad who put his name in the record books through sheer grit and determination. When Steve did his Two Towers charity trek from Paris to Blackpool in 1989, Mike rolled-up part way through, encouraging and accompanying him along part of the route. And a year later, when Mike wrote his own name in the record books as the only other athlete to duplicate that Eiffel Tower to Blackpool Tower feat, Steve gave him the very same support.

Mike's coffin was carried in to church draped in the Union flag, passing former Great Britain Rugby League player Kevin Ashcroft, then fellow members of the British Weightlifting Association for the Disabled, training mates from Flex gym, members of Scope and Mere Oaks school, disabled champion Ray Gainer, and others who simply appreciated the man and his zest for life.

The service included a moving tribute from Mike's grandson Grant Hill (9) who remembered the good times and the fun times he and his elder brother Geoff shared with the strongman.

Mike's wife Pauline was overwhelmed by the number of people who paid their respects.

"Everybody who he knew was there, he would have been proud," she said.

"But then Mike was that type of person, if you met him you'd want to meet him again. If you saw him in the street you would want to speak to him. He won't be forgotten."

On Sunday rugby league supporters observed a minute's silence before the Leigh v Oldham match at Hilton Park in memory of Mike - a keen RL follower.