MORE than 500 mourners packed out St Mary's Church to say farewell to Blakeney dad Clint Grindle who died on the A48 last month.

Family and friends of the 33-year-old made sure he had a good send-off at the Lydney-based church before releasing a 'sky full' of balloons at the Royal Oak, Whitecroft, where Clint used to drink.

The cortege entered to Tracy Chapman's Fast Car and left with Tight Fit's The Lion Sleeps Tonight – a song which was played to Clint as a baby to help him sleep.

Matthew Hancocks paid tribute with a collection of memories from his close friends.

The service was followed by cremation at Yew Tree Brake with close friends and family present. Sam Smith's Stay was played on the way in and Slade Everyday was played on the way out. Prior to Mr Grindle's funeral, a group of people helped transform his garden at the home he shared with his partner, Callie Jones, into a haven for their son, William, to play in.

It was all hands on deck as they laid a driveway and patio and tidied up the garden as well as planted trees and flowers.

Mr Grindle died on August 2 in an accident at Lensbrook, near Lydney, after the white Ford transit van he was a passenger in came off the road and collided with trees. His uncle, Dave Thorne, 66, also of Blakeney, was driving at the time and has recently been discharged from hospital.