Family and friends paid their final respects to stabbing victim Ben Ford, 23, at the church of St John, St Stephen and Shalom before his burial at Grimsby Cemetery.

Ben died in hospital following an incident in the town's Hanson Way on 19 June, 2009.

Ben's coffin was bathed in beaming sunshine at the Scartho Road cemetery as he was finally laid to rest.

His parents Deborah and Michael Ford laid him to rest with a handmade card with the words "goodnight son" written on the front.

Inside the card they said a farewell to Ben with the heartfelt message: "A beautiful face, a beautiful smile, a beautiful heart and a beautiful soul.

"A beautiful son, brother and all. We miss you so much darling, you will always be in our hearts.

"Love you lots darling."

At the funeral, Canon John Ellis urged mourners and the wider community to support Ben's family through this difficult time.

He said the congregation was there because Ben's life had been taken away.

He said: "All his hopes and dreams for the future disappeared in a moment.

"We are here for Ben's mum and dad and all his family.

"They have been through a nightmare and we want to do everything we can to support them as they lay Ben to rest."

The congregation listened to songs chosen by Ben's family including I'll Be There by Michael Jackson and Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton.

Ben left behind brothers James and Sam, and sister Stacy.

At the funeral, Sam, supported by his mum and dad, told mourners: "I wish I had the chance to see him one last time.

"Until we meet again, I will remember all the good times we had to take the pain away. You are sadly missed."

Sam also read aloud a message from Ben's cousin Ashley Ford, who was unable to make it to the ceremony.

He said: "I would not want to have changed one thing about you.

"You have taken a part of me with you.

"Just because you are up there, it doesn't mean I have forgotten about you."

Ben attended Strand Street Infants' and Junior Schools, before moving to Havelok School, where he excelled in art.

He had recently completed a string of qualifications and was hoping to use these to move away from the area and make a new start.

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co. uk/news/Family-say-farewell- beautiful-soul/article- 1181540-detail/article.html [thisisgrimsby.co.uk]