It was the last service the Reverend Andy Thomas would ever have wanted to take.

With tears in his eyes, he stood before a packed congregation of mourners. Bravely, he led them in a saying farewell to his 19-year-old brother Mark Smith.

He told them: "Sorry this soppy old brother up here is bawling his eyes out. I suppose it's not professional, but so what?"

More than 150 people stood before him at Patchway Baptist Church, where he is vicar.

Mr Thomas told them: "It goes without saying that we would all rather not be here.

"Our hearts are shattered and broken at the devastating loss of Mark, a joker, friend, brother, son and much more to many of you here.

"But we are going to celebrate who Mark was, a unique and incredible young man."

Mark was found dead in a flat in St George's on Good Friday, the consequence, his family fear, of his first attempt to use hard drugs.

But 33-year-old Rev Thomas told them: "One thing we must be totally clear about is that God is here to meet us in our pain and to comfort us, and Mark is in heaven enjoying a better life."

Many of Mark's family stepped forward to offer their own tributes.

His step-brother Matthew Thomas, 29, said: "No words can explain the feeling of loss. He was not just my little bro', he was my best friend.

"We went to the gym together, and we helped each other out so much. If I was feeling down he would help me, and I will always miss him."

Another brother, Jonathan Smith, 23, said: "I could go on all day about Mark and the times we spent together, through the good, the bad and the downright boring. He always used to make me laugh.

"He was my best friend, a legend. This isn't a goodbye, just a 'see you later'."

Beneath shafts of spring sunshine that found their way into the church, Mark's young nephew and niece, Sam and Elise Thomas, read their own moving tributes.

His nephew and sister, Judah Thomas and Deborah Thomas, also spoke about how much he had touched their lives, playing football and on the swings in the garden with them.

Friends Ralph Eva and Sue Jones told how they helped Mark face his personal troubles and his love for his family, and Mark's sister-in-law read verses from Psalm 139.

Then, with a the face of their son beamed on to the wall behind them, Mark's parents John, 75, and Cindy, 61, made their own tribute.

Mrs Smith said: "What else can you say about your son, who was thoughtful, loving and generous, who had a great sense of humour and enjoyed acting the clown his whole life?

"He did have his difficulties, and each day was a battle for him, but he had a strong determination to overcome them.

"I am grateful to God for giving Mark to us for the 19 years we had him and even though our hearts are broken we are glad that his struggle is over."

Then after slides showing Mark in his school uniform and football kit, the music of Coldplay's Fix You and Green Day's Time Of Your Life played. Mark's family lit candles and placed them on his coffin.

As Rev Thomas thanked the family and friends who came to show their love for a young man whose life was tragically cut short, Mark's close family said their goodbyes and prepared to accompany him on his final journey to Canford Crematorium.