Funeral of popular 'lion tamer'

Friends say he saved many animals' lives

Mourners have attended the funeral of a popular Black Country character.

Lesley Maiden, 70, from Cradley Heath, was known as "Mick the one eyed lion tamer" after he kept lions and tigers in his garden during the 1970s.

He helped remove the large cats from peoples' homes when a change in the law made it illegal to keep them.

Friend Lou Foley, said that Mr Maiden saved many animals from being put down. A service was held at Rowley Regis Crematorium on Monday.

The pair became internationally famous in 1973 after being arrested for walking a lion through the centre of Birmingham.