THE funeral of popular and much-respected Somerset FA referees development officer Keith Buller is being held this morning at St Mary's Church in his home village of Nether Stowey.

Mr Buller, 49, unexpectedly collapsed and died at home of heart failure last Thursday evening after walking his dog.

Football clubs across the county held emotional minute silences last weekend in honour of Mr Buller, a former Level 2 referee and assistant referee who served on the Football League between 1994 and 2005 before a knee injury forced his early retirement.

He became Somerset FA referees development officer (RDO) in January 2008.