Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston's ex-husband, left the funeral in tears just minutes before it was due to start.

According to mirror.co.uk, he arrived as the service began, walked to the coffin, touched it and walked to the back of the New Jersey church.

Brown then wanted to sit with his entourage of nine people in the family section but was apparently told it wasn't possible.

A report says the entourage were asked to leave the church and a visibly upset Brown left with them.

There had been speculation all week as to whether Brown would attend the service. He was asked to the invitation-only service late in the week.

Houston and Brown were married for 15 years and have one daughter. In 2003, police responding to a domestic violence call about Brown found Houston with a cut lip and bruised cheek. Their tumultuous relationship ended in 2007.