HUNDREDS of people turned out to pay their respects to a popular plumber, a father and a "kind gentleman" who died last month.

North Road, in Darlington, came to halt today for the funeral of Liam Newton, who lived in the town and ran his own business.

The 28-year-old, who was a father-of-one, died on May 16 after being diagnosed with bile duct cancer.

Hundreds of people lined the street and applauded to pay their respects to Mr Newton, while a procession of vans, motorbikes and pedal bikes followed the hearse to North Road Cemetery.

The Northern Echo:

Dozens of fellow tradesmen turned out, along with more than 20 bikers, and people on bicycles, who accompanied his family to the cemetery.

Earlier this week, his wife Jacqueline paid tribute to him as "strong and courageous" and as a "caring, loving" husband and father to four-year-old Tommy.

The couple, who got engaged last year, got married at their home in Redmire Close in February, after Mr Newton was told he had a year to live.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: The funeral of Liam Newton brought North Road, Darlington, to a halt earlier todayThe funeral of Liam Newton brought North Road, Darlington, to a halt earlier today

Mr Newton ran his own business, Newton Plumbing and Heating.

Due to current restrictions,  only Mr Newton's wife, parents and sister attended the graveside.

Michelle Hutchinson, a family friend, who was among the mourners, said: “They couldn’t have asked for people to have made any more of an effort.

He was obviously well-liked. We had to come for the whole family to show our support.

“He was a lovely lad, a really, really nice person.”

The Northern Echo:

Trudy Spence, his second cousin, said: “He was a lovely young man and a lovely father. 

“He’s had a hard life but he’s been so strong and brave.

“There’s so many people here because he was a lovely person and so likeable."

Daniel Carey, 34, an electrician and a friend of Mr Newton, said: "We used to live two doors down from when he was born so we grew up together and went to school together.

"I've worked with him a bit as well.

"He was a kind gentleman. He was a very loveable guy. No-one would ever have a bad word about him."

Jill Richardson, who knows his family, said: "I've known him since he was a lad. There's a lot of people here because he was well-respected.

"He was a lovely lad. He loved his mountain bikes and his motor bikes. 

"It's very sad." 

The Northern Echo attended with permission of the family