FRIENDS and family yesterday gathered to pay their respects to a man who died after being found lying unconscious in a street.

Father-of-two Paul Simpson, 34, of Eldon Street, Darlington, died in Middlesbrough General Hospital after suffering a fractured skull.

He was discovered in the street, yards from his home in the early hours of Sunday, March 11.

A large number of people gathered in Darlington's St Cuthbert's Church yesterday for Mr Simpson's funeral.

Before the service started, tributes to Mr Simpson were laid outside the church in the centre of Darlington.

One was a wreath in the flag of St George with his nickname, Simo, in the middle, while the other was a plaque which contained the emblem of Mr Simpson's favourite team, Glasgow Rangers.

The service was led by the Reverend John Dobson, vicar of Blackwell, and he was assisted by the Reverend Andrew Shipton, a chaplain at the University of Northumbria, where Mr Simpson was a student.

Mr Simpson's two young daughters, Lauren, ten, and Ashleigh, five, had chose the four hymns which were sang at the service and two of his friends, Colin Heseltine and Phil Harris, gave readings.

Following the service, there was a private burial at Darlington's West Cemetery.

l Alfred Robert Welch, 21, of Harris Street, Darlington, is currently remanded in custody charged with Mr Simpson's murder.