FAMILY and friends have gathered to say their final farewells to a Suffolk schoolboy who was killed in a coach crash in Germany.The funeral of 14-year-old Stuart Dines was held at noon yesterday at Woodbridge Methodist Church.

FAMILY and friends have gathered to say their final farewells to a Suffolk schoolboy who was killed in a coach crash in Germany.

The funeral of 14-year-old Stuart Dines was held at noon yesterday at Woodbridge Methodist Church.

More than 250 people turned out to pay their respects in a ceremony that lasted 55 minutes and was conducted by close family friend Stephen Caley, lay worker for Woodbridge, Framlingham and Orford Methodist churches.

Mr Caley said: “It was very much a celebration of Stuart's life and the church was absolutely full. There were people overflowed into the side church, octagon hall and choral gallery.

“The service was only supposed to last 45 minutes but it had to be extended slightly because everyone wanted to pay their respects.

“We sang two hymns All Things Bright and Beautiful and Abide By Me but there was also music from some of Stuart's favourite performers, including Michael Jackson.”

Colin Hirst, headteacher at Thomas Mills High School, in Framlingham, said there was a reading of selected verses from chapters two and four of Paul's Letter to the Philippians and tributes were also read by two of Stuart's school friends.

Following the ceremony family and close friends attended a cremation service in the West Chapel, also taken by Mr Caley.

Stuart, who was from Woodbridge, tragically died when a coach carrying staff and pupils from Thomas Mills school was involved in a crash on the A4 autobahn near Cologne during the early hours of Saturday, February 11.

Two other people from Norfolk who were travelling in a second coach involved in the accident also died. German authorities are continuing with their investigation into the crash and have questioned a lorry driver.

Stuart's family and friends have paid tribute to the youngster and the entrance to his school has scores of floral tributes and heartfelt messages left in his memory.

A memorial website has also been set up to give people a chance to express their feelings.

There are messages from Stuart's family and teachers on the website but the majority of messages are from his fellow pupils and other youngsters who knew him.