SCORES of tearful mourners lined the centre of Calne at lunchtime for the funeral of Matthew Parke who died in a tragic car crash last month.

The 19-year-old’s was the third funeral for the four young men who died on Sunday, August 16 when their car hit a house at Derry Hill.

Matthew was travelling along the A4 with friends Corey Owen, Ryan Nelson, and Jordan Rawlings, 20, when the crash happened in the early hours.

The funerals of two of the men, Ryan Nelson, 20, and Corey Owen, 19, have already been held last Friday and on Monday respectively. It is not yet known when the funeral for Mr Rawlings will be held.

Matthew’s funeral began with the cortège leaving the family home at around 11.50am, travelling along the bypass and down Oxford Road and through Calne town centre.

The town hall clock had not long struck noon when the cortège passed through Calne centre where up to 100 friends and passersby lined the main street.

People stopped in their tracks and bowed their heads when they saw the procession and paused to stand in respectful silence.

Crowds of his former school friends had gathered, some with single white roses and other flowers, to say a final farewell.

Some were tearful while others received hugs from their friends as the cortège passed by on its way out of the town centre.

The funeral service and the event to celebrate Matthew’s life are private and by invitation only. Afterwards, the funeral flowers will be taken to Calne pop-up park and placed there.

Matthew’s family have thanked the community of Calne, family and friends for all the support and love they have received during this very difficult time, saying it has been very much appreciated.

The family wish to do something meaningful in his memory and are raising funds to support Kingsbury Green Academy, formerly known as John Bentley School.

This is where Matthew went to secondary school, including being a student of the 6th form where he made many very close friends.

The teenager achieved excellent results in his GCSEs and A-levels thanks to the support, encouragement and motivation he received from his tutors and his head teacher Mr Tudor.

If anyone would like to donate, donations can be made to Odette Funeral Director or Matt's Go Fund Me page with is titled 'Matthew Parke's Memorial Fundraiser'.

Police once again had urged people to follow the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions and only gather on small groups of six as they paid their last respects as the cortège passed through the town.

Inspector James Brain, from the Chippenham Area Community Policing Team, said: “I would like to thank the community of Calne for the ongoing support they have shown to the families of Corey, Jordan, Matthew and Ryan, and for the way they have respected and adhered to the Covid restrictions.”