THE funeral of the part-time firefighter who died trying to save a teenager from drowning brought a town centre to a standstill.

Paul Metcalf's twin brother Michel and his mother Jacqueline led mourners at a service in Bury Parish Church.

Bachelor Mr Metcalf, 40, of Whalley Road, Shuttleworth, Ramsbottom drowned attempting to save student Reyaz Ali, 16, who failed to surface after jumping into the lake at Simon's Lodge in Redisher Woods, Holcombe Brook.

Sub-officer Metcalf, who was a part time fireman at Ramsbottom station but worked full time as a joinery technician at Accrington and Rossendale College, was attached to a rope, but it is believed it became snagged, dragging him underwater for 15 minutes.

He had waded into the lake with two colleagues in an attempt to save the boy. Fire chiefs, colleagues and civic leaders attended Mr Metcalf's funeral at Bury Parish Church.

Townsfolk lined the route as the coffin was borne on a vintage fire engine through the town centre.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.