THE priest who officiated at the marriage of a police officer who died as he transported a prisoner to custody is coming out of retirement to conduct his funeral service.

PC Joe Carroll died when his car overturned on the A69, near Corbridge, in Northumberland, on April 13.

Tomorrow, a police-escorted funeral cortege will leave the officer's home, in West Woodburn, near Bellingham, Northumberland, on its way to the Cathedral Church of St Mary, in Newcastle.

The service will be led by Father Harry O'Reilly, who married PC Carroll and his wife, Caroline, in Sussex, more than 21 years ago.

Six of PC Carroll's colleagues will carry his coffin into the church, accompanied by Sergeant Allen Clement, playing the bagpipes.

A Holy Mass, held regularly at noon, will form part of the service.

Clayton Street West will be temporarily closed to traffic, from 11am until 1.30pm.

Collections will be held in the church, with all money going towards St Oswald's Hospice, in Newcastle, and St Gemma's Hospice, in Leeds.

There will be family flowers only, and donations in lieu of flowers are to be made to St Oswald's Hospice.

Books of condolence will be available in the church for people to sign.

A staff sergeant at the Royal Military Academy, at Sandhurst, has appeared at Newcastle Crown Court charged with the manslaughter of PC Carroll.

Steven Graham, 39, is also accused of assaulting Inspector Brian English, who was accompanying them to Etal Lane when the car overturned in the early hours of the morning.

A provisional trial date has been set for October 16. There was no application for bail.