MORE than 300 mourners attended the funeral of a schoolboy who drowned after being swept away by a river.
And about 80 people had to listen to the service outside as St Stephen’s Church in Willington was full for the funeral of Ian Bell this morning.
After the service Ian was taken to the neighbouring cemetery for burial.
The Northern Echo respected the family’s wishes and did not attend the service.
Eight-year-old Ian fell into the river near his home in Sunnybrow, near Willington, on the evening of Friday, April 27, sparking a major search by the emergency services and hundreds of volunteers.
He was found by a civilian diver acting under police instruction on Sunday, May 6, near a bridge at Page Bank about three miles downstream from where he fell in.
An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.
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