A MEMORIAL service for Big Issue North salesman Peter Toulson was attended by more than 200 people.

Mr Toulson regularly sold the magazine outside Marks & Spencer in Parliament Street, York, and died suddenly in November at the age of 52.

His friends John and Julie McGall set up an online fundraising campaign which attracted donations of more than £5,000 to help pay for a funeral service to ensure he did not have a pauper’s funeral.

The cremation service held at Lawnswood in Leeds last month was attended by about 20 people, including members of his family.

A second service was held in his memory at Trinity Church in Monkgate, York, on Sunday (FEB 5), where more than 200 local friends and colleagues raised £215, which will be donated to the Big Issue North.

Mr and Mrs McGall will be selling copies of the magazine in Parliament Street in memory of Mr Toulson between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Thursday as part of Big Issue North Vendor Week.