Guard of honour usher in silver hearse at funeral of Pc killed in Clacton shooting Ian Dibell

A guard of honour was formed at the funeral today of a police officer who was shot dead as he tried to stop a gunman.

Pc Ian Dibell, 41, was killed near his home in Clacton, Essex, when he was off duty on July 9.

It is thought he was going to the aid of Trevor Marshall, 48, who was injured in the attack.

His suspected killer, Peter Reeve, 64, shot himself dead in a churchyard in Writtle, near Chelmsford, the following day.

After shooting Pc Dibell, Reeve went on the run, sparking a massive police manhunt.

The silver and black hearse carrying Pc Dibell's coffin, draped in an Essex police flag, was ushered into the grounds of Weeley Crematorium today by a guard of honour of 24 officers.

Members of Pc Dibell's family could be seen weeping as the funeral procession arrived at the crematorium, near Clacton.

About 130 people attended the private service, police said.

Essex Police chief constable Jim Barker-McCardle saluted Pc Dibell's coffin as it drove past. He stood alongside local MP Douglas Carswell and Anthony Jackson, Essex Police Authority chairman.

Pc Dibell's coffin, carrying his officer's hat on top, was then solemnly and respectfully carried into the crematorium by six police pallbearers.

Mr Barker-McCardle has described Pc Dibell as a brave officer.

"Ian's tragic death reminds us all that it's not the uniform that makes a police officer but the instinctive, brave and selfless help to others," he said.

Mr Barker-McCardle added that Pc Dibell was "a very experienced and highly-regarded neighbourhood policing officer" who was well-known in the seaside town, having served there since 2009.

Before that he had spent eight years working as both a neighbourhood and response officer based in Colchester.

PA