HUNDREDS of mourners packed into a Darlington church today to pay tribute to a popular teenager with a heart of gold.

There was standing room only at St Cuthbert’s Church as scores of family and friends gathered to remember Tyrone Singh, who died when his silver Hyundai Getz hit a barrier on the A66 at Long Newton, between Darlington and Stockton, on April 15.

Crowds of well-wishers who had gathered outside the church bowed their heads as his coffin, adorned with the logo of his beloved Liverpool Football Club, was brought into the grounds.

As a tribute to the 18-year-old, his family and friends also wore personalised football shirts with “RIP Tyrone” on the back, while a van from PureClean, where he worked as a valeter, was laden with bouquets of flowers.

Leading the ceremony, Reader Sue Plummer told the congregation how Tyrone lived life to the full and was always making people laugh.

She described him as a “gentle giant with a heart of gold,” who lived for his work at PureClean and going to the gym.

The congregation also heard how the budding strongman, who had recently competed in his first weightlifting contest, had touched the hearts of everyone he knew and would always put other people before himself.

In a tribute to Tyrone, his twin sister, Catelyn, said her brother would always protect her and make sure she was okay.

“I do not think there is much I can say about Ty that everyone doesn’t already know,” she said.

“He meant the absolute world to me. He wasn’t just my brother, he was my twin.”

Tyrone’s older sister Shona-Leigh added: “He was one of a kind. He always put others before himself.”

The service ended with the Lord’s Prayer before his coffin was carried out to Sam Smith’s poignant Lay Me Down, and Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again.

As well as his sisters, Tyrone leaves behind his mother Janine, brother Mitchell, and his father, Rashy.

Following the ceremony, friends gathered for drinks at Harvey’s Bar, in Darlington, while a private burial was held at West Cemetery.

The teenager’s death came just days after the death of family friend, Kyle Hull, who died after falling through the roof of Darlington Auction Mart, in Clifton Road.

Today’s service was attended by The Northern Echo with permission of the family.