HUNDREDS of mourners from around the country lined the streets of a North-East town yesterday for the funeral of 16-year-old Levi George Price.

The popular schoolboy, who was found hanged in the garden of his home at Louvaine Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham, last week, was flanked by family and friends as the funeral cortege wound its way through the streets.

Among the mourners were members of his extended gipsy family, including his mother Karen, father Sailus and his 15 brothers and sisters.

The family came from all parts of the country to attend the funeral, and they were joined by friends, neighbours and George's school pals.

A horse-drawn hearse led the cortege, which included three trucks laden with flowers, to All Saints Church, at Dean Road, Ferryhill.

The church was packed for the moving service, led by Father Brian Murphy.

He said: "George Price was a normal 16-year-old boy who enjoyed his short life. His parents told me he was a happy-go-lucky lad with lots of friends.

"He was kind to younger children, often giving them rides on his horse.

"He was well-liked, loved and respected and his parents thought the world of him."

Fr Murphy added: "We will never know why this tragedy took place and it is futile to speculate."

The cortege then moved off through the streets of Ferryhill for a private burial near Metal Bridge.

Mrs Price thanked everyone who had helped the family through a difficult few days.

She said: "We've had a lot of help. Everybody has been to ask if they can do things for us and expressed their feelings.

"The flowers have just kept coming in all the time and we must have received nearly 100 cards."

She said she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened to George, a happy and active teenager whose interests included boxing and horses.

"What happened was a great big shock," said his mother.

"It seems to have been for no reason at all and we can't understand it.

"Without the family, friends and neighbours around us, I don't know what we would have done."

Mrs Price said she would also like to thank Fr Murphy for his kind words and the police for guiding the cortege