The former Bishop of Malmesbury, the Rt Rev Freddy Temple has died at the age of 84.

Bishop Temple passed away at Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday after collapsing at his Wootton Bassett home.

A former Archdeacon of Swindon for three years, he was born in India in 1916, and studied at Rugby and Balliol College, Oxford to study Classics and History.

He lived in Swindon from 1970 until 1983 before retiring to Wootton Bassett. Bishop Temple came from a long line of senior churchmen, his grandfather Frederick and uncle, William, both became Archbishops of Canterbury.

He held a number of parochial posts before being appointed Dean of Hong Kong. He then became the senior chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher.

During his time as Bishop of Malmesbury, Bishop Temple used to drive an average of 60 miles a day and became jokingly known as the 'Bishop of the M4'.

In 1997 he celebrated 50 years of marriage to his wife Joan whom he met while on leave from the Friends' Ambulance Unit in the Middle East. He also had three children Mina, Stephen and Michael who died as a child. His daughter Mina said: "Freddy was well known for his laugh, wit, sense of humour and approachability."

A cremation service will be held at Kingsdown Crematorium on December 4 at noon. And a service of thanksgiving will be held at Bristol Cathedral on February 7 at 2.30pm.