A horse-drawn carriage led a funeral procession of more than 500 mourners.

The procession, which ran from Stisted to Witham, paid tribute to 23-year-old Siddy Breaker, of Coggeshall Road, Stisted, who died two weeks ago.

The procession gathered at Mr Breaker's home near to Bay Tree Farm, at 1.30pm yesterday before making its way along the A120 and the B1018 to Cressing Church.

From there it went on to a cemetery in Cypress Road, Witham, where Mr Breaker was buried.

One of the mourners said: "He was a quiet young man who kept himself to himself but he was always very polite and friendly when you spoke to him."

Mr Breaker worked with his father as a landscape gardener. An inquest will be held.

Traffic was brought to a standstill behind the funeral procession despite police warnings earlier in the day to avoid the roads which would be used.

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