Mourners bid farewell to hero policeman

Mourners lined the streets today to say farewell to a hero policeman killed in the storms that ravaged Cumbria

Pc Bill Barker, 44, was swept to his death in the swollen waters of the River Derwent when the Northside Bridge in Workington collapsed beneath him.

People stood in silence outside St Mary and St Michael Church, in his home town of Egremont, to pay their final respects as church bells rang out.

The funeral cortege wound its way slowly through the small town, with six motorcyclists from Cumbria Police's Road Police Unit (RPU) accompanying the hearse.

The hearse was laden with flowers and the coffin was draped in the Union flag with his police helmet on top.

It was followed by four black Mercedes limousines, carrying members of Pc Barker's family, which swept in to the churchyard. Men watching the procession removed their hats as a sign of respect.

Ten RPU officers formed an honour guard outside the church to greet one of the own - Pc Barker was a traffic officer and father of four whose bravery in stopping vehicles crossing the stricken bridge cost him his life.

His body was found on a beach in nearby Allonby hours after the tragedy, in the early hours of last Friday morning. He was due to celebrate his 45th birthday the day after.