HUNDREDS of people packed into St Nicholas' Church in Newchurch-in-Rossendale to hear tributes to a "selfless" and "dedicated" young teacher who died on his beloved motorbike.

Friends, some dressed in biking gear, relatives and schoolchildren filled the church for the funeral yesterday of 31-year-old Ron Hodgkinson, who died after his motorbike collided with a Rover Metro on Saturday, July 5.

Youngsters attended in school uniform after both Water and Newchurch primary schools, where he had taught, were closed for the afternoon as a mark of respect.

The vicar, the Rev Charles Ellis, paid his own tribute to Ron whom he had met on many occasions in his role as school governor. He said: "Everyone says what a great chap Ron was. One of my abiding memories was that big smiling welcome.

"If I needed help, it didn't matter what it was, even if he was busy doing something else, he would stop what he was doing to help me out.

"St Nicholas got a bad Ofsted report but all the staff worked tremendously hard to turn the school around. I am sure that no-one worked harder then Ron to put it back on the right track.

"Ron was loved by both the staff and children. He taught the children how to play the guitar and once he picked it up he couldn't put it down. I wish when I was at school I had learned times tables the way he taught his children by singing them to guitar music."

He was good at general knowledge and quizzes, loved sport, including cricket and football, worked for Talking Newspapers, was on the police forum and enjoyed riding his bike.

The vicar added: "His teaching career was going well and he had finally paid off his student loan and his loan for his bike. Then this terrible tragedy happened which has stunned and shocked us all."

The hymns Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, The Lord is My Shepherd and The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended were sung in church and one of Ron's favourite songs, Led Zeppelin's Thankyou, was played.

Ron's best friend, Craig Smith, held back the tears as he spoke of his love for his pal who he described as "absolutely selfless in things he did for others".

He said: "Ron was my best mate. I feel privileged that I can say that, because I have never met anyone as wonderful. I have never met anyone more loyal, more caring and more committed to every single person around him. Someone said he was like a rainbow in their life and he certainly was in mine. I know I am a richer and fuller person for having spent time with him.

"He was a lovely son and brother, a dedicated teacher and the best friend anyone could have wished for."

Mr Smith then read a poem entitled, Friends Do Not Die, by Richard R Bealey.

A mass of floral tributes have been placed at the spot where the accident happened in memory of Ronnie and many more floral tributes, including a football and 'Ron' in claret and blue flowers, were placed on the coffin. Cremation was at Burnley.