Relatives of an Essex man who went missing three years ago attended his funeral today.

Chris May, 28, had last been seen at his father’s address in Coggeshall in May 2015.

His car was later found abandoned in Troy’s Chase, Fairstead.

Last month, police announced they had found a body in their search for Mr May.

Today, Mr May’s family attended his funeral.

Following the service in Coggeshall, his mother Lorraine released a statement on behalf of the family.

“The past three years have been incredibly difficult for the family,” she said.

“Not knowing what happened to Chris, where he was and why he wasn’t coming home caused countless sleepless nights and indescribable pain.

“We had so many questions that no one was able to answer.

“We clung on to the hope that he would one day just walk back through the front door and wonder what all the fuss had been about.

“The day we were told that a body had been found was a day we had dreaded. Parents are not supposed to outlive their children. I should not be having to bury my child.

“Nothing gets any easier for us.

“Even though Chris’s body has been found there are still so many unanswered questions, we are grateful for all the support we have received from the police and the media regarding the search for Chris.

“But we now ask that our privacy as a family is respected by the media and we are allowed to come to terms with Chris’s death in private.”

An inquest into Mr May’s death is due to take place in October.