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MOURNERS filled the chapel at Worcester Crematorium for the funeral of a "gentle giant" who died after a car he was travelling in hit a tree.

Kyle Gadsby, aged 18, died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital following the crash, on the A449 Kidderminster to Worcester Road on Sunday, December 10.

His three friends also in the Rover 220 died at the scene of the crash - they were Joanne Bibby, aged 17 of Bearcroft Avenue, Warndon, Stephanie Goodall, 16, of Burleigh Road, Dines Green and driver Martyn Pickering, 18, of Little Hill, Droitwich.

Canon Keith Withington, who conducted yesterday's service at Worcester Crematorium, paid tribute to Kyle, of Valley Way in Droitwich.

"It was a very moving service - Kyle was obviously a lovely bubbly gentle giant who had so many friends," he said. Of course his family will miss him terribly.

"The chapel was full and there was standing room only and there were also a lot of floral tributes."

The family chose to play Don't Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith as mourners left the chapel.

Canon Withington added: "The family wanted it to be an act of thanksgiving, so we sang Give Me Joy In My Heart." He said he read a poem written by Kyle's sister Lauren, which began "a special friend that's in my heart".

Other hymns included The Lord's My Shepherd and Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace. Canon Withington said he spoke with warmth and remembered the other youngsters who lost their lives in the crash.

Last week Tricia Gadsby-Dyer, mother of Kyle, described her 6ft 3in, 18-stone son as "a big teddy bear".

The congregation was invited to make donations to the County Air Ambulance.

Kyle was the first of the crash victims to be buried.

Joanne's will be held tomorrow at 1pm at Worcester Crematorium and Stephanie's will be held the following day at St Mary's Church in Kempsey, near Worcester.

**Today 112 mourners packed into a church in Droitwich to remember and celebrate the life of Martyn. Full report and pictures in tomorrow's Worcester News.