HUNDREDS of mourners at the funeral of two Darlington boys killed on a railway line were urged yesterday to unite to improve life for young people.

The family and friends of Lee Mullis, 14, and Stuart Adams, 15, who were hit by a train in the town on Good Friday, heard a plea from the Reverend Graham Morgan to work together for change.

At the end of an emotional service at Bondgate Methodist Church, he prayed for the boys' relatives and their schoolfriends, adding: "We pray for those who were with them on that tragic day and remember also the one who was driving the train.

"We pray for the wider community and confess in no short measure that we have failed our young people. Help us to face up to our responsibility, that some good may come of this tragedy."

Later, Mr Morgan told The Northern Echo he wanted churches, schools community groups and the local authority to join together to give teenagers in Darlington more to do.

"It was a kind of confession on behalf of the community, saying really we ought to wake up and do our best for the kids," he said.

"There are no easy answers. But I think if all the churches, schools and the council, and anybody else with an interest, work together, we have got more of a chance."

More than 600 people, including many from the boys' school, Longfield Comprehensive, were estimated to have attended the joint service, which Mr Morgan gave with his wife, the Reverend Emma Morgan.

Mourners heard of the boys' "remarkably strong and special" friendship, which lasted from early childhood until their deaths, on the East Coast Main Line at Five Arches Bridge.

Photographs of the boys were placed at the front of the church by Mr Morgan before two coffins, heavily decked in floral tributes, were carried in by relatives.

The rest of the boys' families followed behind, their sobs audible above a dance track, Walk on Water, chosen by Lee's sister, Linzi.

Mr Morgan told the congregation not to "dwell on the manner of their deaths".

"Rather, you should remember their lives and all that made them the lads that they were. In such a way, their memories will be kept alive," he said.

Later, he paid tribute to Lee, describing him as "the kind of lad that you couldn't help warm to".

"He was certainly a character, a lad who oozed personality," he said.

"His friendship with Stuey was remarkably strong and special."

Equally poignant was the tribute to Stuart, read by Mrs Morgan.

She told how Stuey was "never short of friends, for he was a very likeable lad - popular, with a sense of humour and the ability to make others laugh.

"With Lee, he shared a long and trusted friendship, a friendship that was incredibly strong," she said.

"They knew they could always rely on one another."

The coffins were taken from the church to the sound of Puff Daddy and Faith Evans' I'll Be Missing You, chosen by Stuart's family.

Afterwards, Lee's relatives attended a private cremation at Darlington Crematorium and Stuart's, a private burial at North Cemetery.

Wakes were held at Darlington Golf Club and Simpson Rolling Mills Club.