BEREAVED families joined together in remembrance at the weekend as funeral directors AE Smith and Sons invited their clients to a special service.

Running for more than a decade, the non-sectarian service was held at Emmanuel Church and attracted more than 150 friends and family members who had lost loved ones in 2015 and beyond.

The team were also raising money for the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy appeal, as many of the families they have worked with have had need of cancer treatment along the way.

“It is not limited to the last year, it is open to anyone who has lost someone we have worked with,” said funeral director Jeff Browning.

“It is an open invitation to anyone who feels it would be good for them.”

The directors have held the event for the last 12 years but moved into the Emmanuel Church seven years ago, where they say they have had "fantastic" support.

“We always book the church a year in advance, and will have different ministers and celebrants come along each year,” Jeff added.

“Whenever possible we try to cover the Roman Catholic and Church of England faiths in our service, and this year we happened to have two civil celebrants join us.

“We also try to encourage those who have previously worked with us and our families and invite them, because then you have that amalgamation and they are a known and trusted face.”

Around 160 people packed the church on Saturday for the service, which included hymns from the Emmanuel Choir.

“Initially people are saying it is the best one so far,” said Jeff. Jeff added: “We have also gathered some donations for the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy appeal, from refreshments we put on during the day. We chose them for some personal reasons, and Swindon does need something to help those families.

“Quite a lot of the families we work with have been in those circumstances, or have had cancer or radiotherapy along their journey, so we felt it was important to give something back.”