People packed a North-East church to mourn a popular homelessness worker.

Tributes to 26-year-old Andrew Banks were paid yesterday during the funeral at Grange Road Baptist Church, Darlington.

Mr Banks, who died suddenly at his home earlier this month, was the co-ordinator of the In From The Cold project at the church, which offered beds to homeless people in Darlington during the winter.

At the service, relatives, friends and colleagues heard about a "giant among men" who worked passionately to try to provide a better service for those less fortunate than himself.

Mourners heard how Mr Banks had earned the nickname Smiler because of his infectious smile.

A wreath of a smiley face was placed on his coffin, the family carried a balloon with a smiley face and the undertaker's tie also had smiley faces on it.

The minister, the Reverend John Elliston, said Mr Banks had a great vision for the future of the In From The Cold project and he hoped something could be done for homeless people in Darlington in his memory.

He added: "Andrew was a very caring man and hated to see people hurt, even on TV he hated seeing people being hurt."

During the service, a poem entitled Don't Quit was read out and at the end of the service, Everybody Hurts by REM was played.

A donation as taken which was split between the In From The Cold project and a trust fund for Mr Bank's four-year-old daughter, Lilith.

An inquest into Mr Bank's death was opened last week and police have said they are not treating it as suspicious.