HUNDREDS of family and servicemen of a pilot killed when his Puma helicopter crashed in North Yorkshire paid their respects at his funeral today.

More than 300 people, including 150 RAF servicemen packed into St Mary's Church, in Norton, to say farewell to Flight Lieutenant David Sale, 28, who died in the accident, near Catterick, on August 8.

He was given a full military funeral at the church on the village green, where he grew up.

Traffic was stopped in the main street as the hearse and four cars carrying family and friends passed and entered the grounds of the church.

Residents and shoppers also stopped in the street to pay their respects.

Servicemen lined the entrance to the church and saluted as the hearse passed.

The Union Jack on the church flew at half mast and the bells rang as Flt Lt Sale's coffin, draped in a Union Jack flag, was lifted out of the hearse.

Flt Lt Sale died, along with crewman Sergeant Phillip Burford, when the helicopter crashed while on a training exercise.

Private Sean Tait, of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, one of nine soldiers on board the aircraft, died later from his injuries.

Flt Lt Sale was due to be deployed to Iraq in the Autumn.

Speaking last week his mother, Valerie, said: "I would like to think he did his level best to save the others and he lost his life to save others.

"We are immensely proud of him."

An RAF Board of Inquiry into the crash has been suspended and taken over by North Yorkshire Police.