NEWENT town centre was brought to a standstill last week as around 600 mourners gave Shaun Payne a farewell that is normally only seen for elder statesmen.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Shaun, 18, who was on his way home from work, died from his injuries sustained in an accident on the B4215 on October 24.

And with the bells of St Mary’s Church pealing, Shaun’s family and many of his friends walked from his home behind a motorcycle sidecar hearse and a motorbike escort to the church.

On arrival at the church, Shaun’s coffin, which had been covered with an array of handwritten messages, was carried into the church to the sound of Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

Inside the church it was standing room only as Revd Simon Mason faced the congregation and said that he was touched by the way the town had come together over the last few weeks to mourn Shaun.

He said: "I would like to pay tribute to the young people of our town. In a whole variety of ways they have already shown their support and raised a considerable amount of money. Its a very special thing to see."

The church heard that Shaun was no angel and was told that he was a mischievous teenager while at the same time he was a very popular, caring, hard-working young man.

Following the service, a procession made up of hundreds of people then made its way behind the motorbike hearse through the town.

Local residents out shopping and shopkeepers paused to pay their own respects as the procession made its way to the town’s cemetery.

As Shaun’s coffin was being interned, army cadet Sgt Connor-Trigg played the Last Post in tribute to the teenager who had dreamed about joining the army.