AROUND 1,000 people attended the funeral of rally star Michael Park at St Bartholomew's Church, Much Marcle, on Thursday.

His coffin, draped in the English and Estonian flags, was carried by four representatives from Subaru, Ford, Mitsubishi and Peugeot, all teams Mr Park had raced for.

Ron Williams, of Hawcutt's, the funeral director, led the way, carrying Mr Park's racing helmet.

The church was full and an equal number of people stood outside in the light drizzle to hear the service broadcast over loud speakers.

Many high-profile members of the rallying world were there, including Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson who, before he entered the church, said: "The sport has lost the best co-driver in the world and the number of people here show the high regard Michael was held in. It's a very sad day for us all."

Mr Park's driver, the Estonian Markko Martin, arrived with the family cortge and entered the church with head bowed.

Marcus Gronholm, rally world champion on two occasions, was also among the mourners.

During the service, Peugeot team boss Paul Turner remembered Mr Park's love of family, competitive streak, determination and wicked sense of humour, which other mourners recalled with fondness.

That sense of humour came across with the playing of the song he had requested for his funeral - Going Underground, by his favourite group The Jam.

Rev Howard Mayell read out a moving letter Mr Park's 10-year-old daughter Victoria had written to her father on the evening after his death. She wrote: "I can never get over it, and you will, and will forever, be the best dad and co-driver in the world that any girl could have. So I would like you to take lovely thoughts of rallying to heaven with you and not think of the crash.

"Everyone is so worried about you, even though people say you are dead, you will always be my dad, who is alive with all your might."

Mourners also heard how Mr Park's son, William, aged seven, already has an ambition to be an Olympic swimmer.

The funeral took place at the same time as a memorial service for Mr Park in Tallin, the Estonian capital, where the Englishman was viewed almost as a national hero.