A HORSE-drawn carriage took a father-of-two on his final journey as people from different faiths came together to say goodbye.

Family and friends gathered to pay their last respects to Nadeem Khan, of St Aidan's Avenue, Mill Hill, Blackburn, more than six months after he died following a "violent struggle" with officers in Brierfield.

Nadeem, known as Dean, was taken through Burnley, where he spent his childhood, to his final resting place at Burnley Cemetery in an oak coffin, topped with red roses.

Flower bouquets spelling out a number of words had been placed on the carriage, including Dean, cousin, daddy, son and brother.

Earlier in the day, Muslim prayers were held for Nadeem at the Fred Hamer funeral chapel, Briercliffe Road.

The 28-year-old property developer died last June in hospital hours after being taken into custody at Burnley Police Station following what police described as a "violent struggle" in Burnley Road, Brierfield.

His body was released by the coroner last week following an investigation by the Indep-endent Police Complaints Commission, which is to report its findings soon.

Yesterday, Nadeem's father Salim Khan, with the help of friends and family, carried the coffin into the chapel followed by his sister blowing a kiss as she entered the chapel.

To a packed room, the minister leading the service, Phil Talbot, said: "We hope Nadeem can now have a sense of rest and peace in the final part of his life," before reading Psalm 25.

Sister Shameem sobbed as she paid tribute to her older brother.

She said: "He grew up to be a caring and generous person who loved his family and friends and a great father to his two daughters.

"It upset me to know that they will never get to know him now.

"He was the glue of this family and now he has gone there will be a very big hole in our lives.

"He was too young to be taken from us and I know many of us will never come to terms with it. We miss him every day.

"You may have gone but you will never be forgotten."

A childhood friend delivered a eulogy broken by sobs from him and the people in the chapel as grief engulfed the room.

Nadeem's brother followed with a poem and the minister concluded with the poem 'Do not grieve for me'.

Mourners placed roses onto the coffin before leaving the chapel to the strains of Phil Collins' Against All Odds, Nadeem's favourite song.

Claret and blue balloons flew into the cloud filled sky in honour of the Burnley fan as a last gesture as he was lowered into his final resting place.