A stellar line up from the British film industry have gathered in central London for a service to remember Oscar-winning director Richard Attenborough

Lord Attenborough was among Britain's best-known actors and directors

Dame Judi Dench and Sir Michael Caine were among those who celebrated "a truly great man" of stage and screen.A stellar line up from the British film industry have gathered in central London for a service to remember Oscar-winning director Richard Attenborough.

Also attending were Alan Rickman, Jane Seymour and Sir John Hurt.

Lord Attenborough, a stalwart of the British film industry for more than half a century, died aged 90 last year.

Sir Ben Kingsley and Lord Attenborough's brother, TV wildlife presenter Sir David Attenborough, were among those who spoke during the Westminster Abbey ceremony.

It was led by the Dean of Westminster, the very reverend Dr John Hall.

Sir David Attenborough read some of his brother's own words at the memorial

Sir John Hurt and his wife Anwen Rees-Myers were among the guests

Dame Judi Dench and Jane Seymour also paid their respects

Paying tribute to Lord Attenborough, Dr Hall said: "We come to celebrate the life and achievement of Richard Attenborough, a truly great man: Certainly a star of stage and screen, but also a pioneer film-maker, an exemplary leader of his profession, a man of deep commitment, of great generosity of spirit, and of personal warmth."

"We shall also pray that his story might continue to inspire and inform others to follow his example, that our world might become a little brighter and better."

Born in Cambridge in 1923, Lord Attenborough was a respected actor before becoming a celebrated director.

He appeared in films such as Brighton Rock, The Great Escape and 1993 dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.

Among his career highlights was the 1982 film Gandhi, which won eight Academy Awards, including best film and best director.

Sir Ben, who played Gandhi, joined actress Geraldine James to read from Ghandi's writings during the service of thanksgiving.

Actor Tom Hiddleston delivered a reading during the service

Dame Penelope Keith was among those celebrating the actor and director's life

Sir Kenneth Branagh was accompanied by his wife Lindsay Brunnock to the memorial

Hymns included Jerusalem, and there were bible readings from actors Tom Hiddleston and Penelope Wilton.

The service touched on all aspects of Lord Attenborough's life, including the influence his work had on the cultural fabric of the UK.

As well as his two Oscars, six Baftas and four Golden Globes, he was awarded the CBE in 1967, knighted in 1976, and made a life peer in 1993.

Sir David Attenborough read from Lord Attenborough's maiden speech in the House of Lords during the ceremony.

He said: "The arts are not a prerequisite of the privileged few; nor are they the playground of the intelligentsia. The arts are for everyone - and failure to include everyone diminishes us all.'"

The ceremony, which lasted just under an hour, was "absolutely perfect", said Dame Judi Dench.

"I think he'd have loved it," added Dame Penelope Keith, while Sir John Hurt called it "very moving" and "excellent".

"It was very uplifting and it was a testimony to his amazing gift," said Robert Lindsay, revealing that he "used to call [Lord Attenborough] 'the magician.'"

Lord Attenborough was married to actress Sheila Sim, with whom he had three children.

Tragedy struck the family on Boxing Day 2004 when his elder daughter Jane Holland, and her daughter, Lucy, and her mother-in-law, also named Jane, were killed in the south-Asian tsunami.

His son Michael is a theatre director and former artistic director of the Almeida Theatre in Islington, north London, while his daughter Charlotte is an actress.