THE grieving parents of a young man killed in an horrific factory accident have thanked the community which rallied round them.

Earlier this month, 21-year-old technical engineer James Sapsford became trapped in a machine he was operating at Triple T Engineering, in Shildon, County Durham.

He died instantly and despite colleagues desperate efforts to save him.

At Bluebell Close, in Newton Aycliffe, where James lived with his parents Carol and Ian, the family home has been inundated with calls from well-wishers and friends, some of whom have moved to help the family through their grief.

Mrs Sapsford said they received 230 cards. She said: "Thanks doesn't seem enough, we just can't say enough. We've been taken aback. We didn't realise how much James was liked."

Mr Sapsford said: "Last week on many occasions in here we had standing room only. We have had a tremendous amount of support from James's friends and our friends, people from where I work, people from where Carol works. It's been incredible."

James's sister Erin, 24, and brother Neil, 29, have also been supported through the tragedy.

One of Erin's friends moved in to the Sapsford household after news of James's death, as did James's girlfriend Becky, to help the family cope.

The three siblings were very close and James was to have been best man at his brother Neil's wedding, who proposed to his girlfriend this Valentine's Day. Now Erin will take the role.

The three also shared a passion for motorbikes and were members of a motorbike club in Shildon.

James's father said: "The kids were all best friends, very close.

"James would never hold a grudge, never fall out with anybody. He would help anyone out.

"He had a good sense of humour, a little bit wacky at times."

James was given a Humanist service at Darlington Crematorium.

The funeral brought roads to a standstill, with almost two dozen motorbike riders from James's bike club stopping the traffic at roundabouts.

Mrs Sapsford said: "He was very active, very fit. He was never still for a minute. There weren't enough hours in the day.

"He packed more into his 21-years than I have into my 54.