WELL over 100 family and friends packed into Carmountside Crematorium to say their last goodbyes to a care assistant who died in a motorbike accident.

A procession of motorcycles led the funeral party into Carmountside yesterday ahead of the funeral service for 20-year-old Gareth Bowen of Broadway, Longton.

Mr Bowen, known to friends and family as Gaz, was carried into the funeral parlour in a green Ninja Kawasaki coffin with his helmet on top, in a tribute to his love of motorcycles, to the strains of Nickleback's Wherever You Will Go.

Leading the tributes to Mr Bowen, his uncle and godfather John Brindley said: "From the outset, he was surrounded by a family that could not have loved him more.

"They were a good, hard-working family, who would support each other no matter what.

"There was a gentle and caring side to him.

"He would wait for his dad after work so they could ride home together and he would go on road trips with his mum.

"Over the years, Gaz grew into a big man with a big heart."

Mr Brindley spoke about his nephew's love of motorbikes, his years as an accident-prone child, his fondness for playing pranks and his sense of humour.

In one anecdote, he recalled that, after dying his hair green, Mr Bowen was told not to turn up for work like that again.

The next day, he arrived with his hair dyed blue instead. Mr Brindley added: "Gaz made me proud to be his uncle and his godfather."

Leading the funeral service, Reverend Prebendary Cathy Case said: "We should not be here today. This should not have happened. But it did happen, we are here in a state of shock and disbelief.

"Gaz was born with a club foot, but by the time he was nine months old he wasn't crawling, he was walking.

"He remained a quick learner, riding a bike without stabilisers at the age of three.

"He taught himself to drive and loved motorbikes. He could strip a motorbike down and put it back together.

"Unusually for a young man, he became a care assistant and worked for a time with very poorly people in a critical care centre, showing the loving side of his personality."

Mr Bowen died after his bike crashed into a roadside barrier on the A518 in Uttoxeter on Thursday, July 2.

Police believe the adult carer, who looked after people with critical illnesses, had been riding towards Rocester from Uttoxeter when an overtaking manoeuvre went wrong near where the A518 crosses the A50.

He leaves his parents, Keith and Julie, and sisters Nicola and Claire.

Rev Case told the congregation Mr Bowen had discussed with his parents what would happen if he died in an accident. The green Ninja Kawasaki coffin was his own idea and he had chosen most of the music played, including Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell, his all-time favourite biking song, played at the end of the funeral.

Police are still investigating the crash. Witnesses should call PC Daniel Bingham on 0300 1234455.