MORE than 300 friends and family have said their final farewells to 17-year-old James Tyrer, the ‘lad with the cheeky grin’.

The funeral of the Winterbourne teenager who died in a car crash on August 22 was held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Patchway yesterday.

The church was packed for a requiem mass which paid tribute to James, known as Jimmy to everyone who knew him.

The service was led by Father Eugene Campbell, who said: "The important thing is to remember Jimmy as he was when you last saw him, not as an accident victim.

"Remember him as he was, full of life, full of energy and probably wearing sunglasses."

Letters from his brother Stephen, sister Mandy and younger sister Lisa were read out during the service.

Mandy wrote: "Nothing is ever going to be the same without you. My heart is broken in two. I wish I had told you I loved you more."

Stephen wrote: "You were a kind, loving person who was afraid of no-one.

"You were the best of the best; with a cheeky smile and your little grin."

The congregation included family members, school friends from The Ridings High School in Winterbourne where Jimmy was a former pupil and Filton College, where the teenager was training to become a bricklayer.

One of his teachers said: "Since starting college I saw Jimmy turn into a fine young man.

"In July he walked on stage at a celebration ceremony, I was so proud of him and I know everybody else was too.

"I will remember his cheeky grin, how he was full of confidence and most of all his respectful manner which is a credit to his family."

She said Rob Evans, deputy headteacher at the former Ridings school, sent his condolences to the family and said the school would always remember Jimmy having his photograph taken with Glen Catley, ex-super middleweight world champion.

Jimmy was a talented boxer and trained with Synwell Boxing Club in Wotton-under-Edge. Many of his friends from the sport were at the funeral, along with officials from England Amateur Boxing Club.

Mourners stood for hymns All Things Bright and Beautiful and Christ Be Beside Me. Prayers were said for the two other occupants of the Mercedes car Jimmy was travelling in who remain in a critical condition in hospital and for the family of Patrick O’Donoghue, 26, the driver of the car who also died in the accident.

The car collided with a Royal Mail delivery lorry at 2.30am on Winterbourne Road at its junction with Old Gloucester Road in Stoke Gifford. The lorry driver suffered serious back injuries and a broken leg in the crash.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the accident, call 0845 456 7000.

A horse-drawn carriage led the procession to Filton Cemetery for the burial.