A former showgirl and charity worker has been cremated in a cardboard coffin covered in tribute notes and accompanied by half a blue badge parking permit.

The odd item picked to join Julie Green in the afterlife was a final barb to Wandsworth Council who controverisally stripped the 73-year-old of her disabled parking status last year despite having degenerative arthritis.

Ms Green, who lived in Roehampton, was refused her permit even after a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer, and was only awarded the badge on appeal after she had already moved into Trinity Hospice.

Her partner of 15 years Richard Baggeley said: "One of her wishes was 'I wish I can keep the damn thing with me.'

"Half of it is in the coffin with her there. When she gets there she is able to say I can have free parking."

She died on February 3 at the Hospice.

Friends reminisced of her former life as an exotic dancer in the West End during her funeral at Putney Vale Crematorium, in Stag Lane, Putney, on Friday.

Friend Malcom Harris spoke of Ms Green's time as a showgirl when she worked alongside Joan Sims and danced in the only strip club in South Africa.

He said: "I am sure most of you will know she was not first and foremost a charity shop diva. She was a showgirl, exotic dancer and actress in the swinging 60s in her 20s.

"When I think of Julie now I immediately have a picture of her laughing. We took great delight in mocking the self righteous."

A highlight of her career was meeting Judy Garland who visited her dressing room and praised her performance.

Following her time as a showgirl she went onto volunteer at Oxfam, in Putney High Street, for 15 years and the Salvation Army shop for four years, with many charity workers present at the funeral.

She was known in the community for travelling around Putney and Roehampton in her motorscooter, with Ms Green taking charge of collectables for Oxfam.

A party followed the funeral in The Rose and Crown pub, Wandsworth High Street, Wandsworth.

Donations were taken for Egyptian animal charity ace-egypt.org.uk as Ms Green was a passionate animal lover.