TWO hundred family and friends brought a town to a standstill as they paid their final respects to alleged murder victim Gavin Tattersall.

Gavin, 18, of Cambridge Drive, Padiham, died after an incident in Churchill's nightclub in Accrington on May 27, when he was celebrating a friend's birthday.

In a moving service at St Leonard's Church, Padiham, led by vicar the Rev Mark Jones, there was standing room only as scores of Gavin's teenage friends packed the pews.

His stepfather Shaun Mills, of Cambridge Drive, Padiham, recited a poem he had written for Gavin, whom he said he considered his son and with whom he had just started a window cleaning business in Blackburn.

It concluded: "Gavin, my son, clean God's windows every fortnight until the day that I will come."

He spoke of Gavin the sportsman who was keen on kickboxing and jujitsu, snooker, football, cricket and motocross and told of how he excelled at everything he tried.

He said: "There was not a day in my life he ever let me down. I could not have wished for a better son. He will stay with me for eternity."

Family and friends took turns to talk of how Gavin affected their lives, his sister Kelly also recited a poem and one of his friends Tony Harwood said: "You never know how much you love someone until he is gone. Gav will never be gone, he will live on.

"If we all stick together and support each other, support the family then we will always be able to remember him. Try not to get too upset, remember the good times.

"I am sure his grave will always be crowded with his mates and birds."

A young girl, who spoke on behalf of 'Gav's birds and chicks', said: "Gav was a lads' lad, the amount of laughs we had together.

"Although he is out of sight he will never be out of mind and will be with us every step of the way."

Mr Jones said: "We feel appalled that a young man on a night out should have his life taken away. It is a world gone wrong, it does some very evil things. Of course we want the police and courts to bring justice but we can rest assured that God will also bring justice."

As Gavin's white coffin was carried into the church after a silent procession through the town, his family followed each holding a single pink or red rose. His mum Yvonne carried a toy clown.

On top of his coffin was a pale blue and white floral arrangement in the shape of a hat, two floral footballs, one claret, blue and white and a second in a red and white George Cross and a floral arrangement spelling out Gavin were brought into the church.

Gavin would have been 19 on June 8 and his friends celebrated with a party at the Shakespeare Hotel.

His mum and stepfather thanked everyone for attending, and thanked the police for their help since their son's death.

Although Gavin was not a clubber, he enjoyed nights out with his friends and his mother sounded a warning to all the young people in the congregation.

She said: "Keep safe while you are out having a drink, while you are out with friends, it could have been you. Remember when you are going to pubs and clubs -- keep safe."

Dance track You Are Beautiful by Matt Darey was played at the end of the funeral before a motocross friend and the hearse left for St John's Church cemetery followed by the family and friends.

A father and son from Clayton-le-Moors have been charged with Gavin's murder and a third man with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.