More than 300 people packed into a County Durham Church today to say a sad farewell to a 24-year-old sportsman who died suddenly during a game of football.

Family, friends and sporting colleagues gathered into St Batholomew's Church at Sunderland Bridge for the emotional funeral service of Kelvin McIntosh.

Kelvin, a keen all round sportsman, lived with his parents Judith and Dave McIntosh at Croxdale and had been playing football for Croxdale and Hett Workingmen's Club in the Sunday League last weekend when he collapsed.

Among his many sporting achievements had been to be picked for the British Championships in Taekwando, he represented the County in athletics and played rugby for both the Durham Tigers and Gateshead Mets.

He was equally passionate about playing for the Workingmen's Club team and it was six of his football team mates who acted as pallbearers at his funeral.

Kelvin was a larger than life character who had a huge circle of friends and their devastation at his death was clear at his funeral and cremation services.

Leading the mourners into Church were his mother and father and partner of five years Kimberley Hutchinson.

They were joined by his brothers Shaun and David and grandparents Allan and Ada Price.

Vicar of St Bartholomew's, the Rev Father Martin Wray described Kelvin as unique and widely loved, a young man who had developed a style of his own.

The service also included a reading of the Rudyard Kipling poem "If'' and Kelvin's coffin was brought out of the Church to Robbie Williams song "Angels.''

His grief stricken parents had earlier said of their son: "There will never be anyone like Kelvin again. He was loved by everybody, he was passionate about sport and passionate about people.''

As a mark of respect to Kelvin man the Sunday League has postponed all of this weekend games.

League secretary said: "The thoughts and sympathies of every single club and referee is now with Kelvin's family.''

* The Northern Echo attended the funeral with the permission of the family.