His beloved guitar was carried shoulder high atop his coffin into the church.

He was just 17 with the rest of his life ahead of him. But yesterday friends and family of Chris Waldron packed Almondsbury Parish Church for a moving service of thanksgiving for his life.

More than 400 people filed into the church under a grey sky as James Blunt's Goodbye My Lover played.

The caring 17-year-old, who was a sixth-form student at Marlwood School in Alveston, died tragically on October 1.

Many people were in tears as the coffin was carried into the church with his mother Karen, 47, brothers Stephen, 29, Philip, 27, and Nicholas, 21, and sisters Sally, 25, and Rosie, 11, walking behind.

The Rev Philip Rowe introduced the service and said the number of people attending was a great tribute to Chris who left behind a letter explaining to his family the reasons for his action, mainly the loss of his father Bill who died of a brain tumour in 2003 and his mother suffering breast cancer last year.

His elder sister Sally, 25, feared that she would not make it to the funeral as she was stuck in traffic on the M5 after police closed the motorway when a power cable came down.

But she made it to the service in time and gave a warm tribute to her brother who looked after his younger sister Rosie before school and prepared the evening meals when his mum was ill.

She said: "My brother Chris left us so suddenly. I want to remember the good things in his life."

She described the teenager as "serious, reliable and very responsible".

Since Mr Waldron's death Chris had been raising money for St Peter's Hospice and in May last year he shaved off his long hair to support his mum as she went through cancer treatment.

He had been planning a sponsored cycle ride to Edinburgh next summer and was looking forward to becoming an uncle in a few weeks' time.

Sally said Chris was always thinking of others and last year he received a Young People's Award from Avon and Somerset police for his work as a volunteer at Almondsbury Youth Club.

As well as helping to raise funds to buy equipment for the club he enabled a young girl to attend by escorting her to the club and home again.

Chris loved music, playing the violin, guitar and piano and had been planning to join a band.

Sally said: "He was growing into a lovely, nice young man.

"Chris requested a party to remember him by. He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone but he couldn't see how much everyone cared about him."

A tribute from St Peter's Hospice was read by Mr Rowe. It said: "He was someone who was full of compassion for others. Because of his personal experience of loss he wanted to make a difference to other people who found themselves in the same situation as he did.

"Chris has helped to ensure St Peter's Hospice continues to care for patients and support other families affected by bereavement."

Eight school friends spoke of their memories of Chris and how they would miss him.

One said: "I always felt I could talk to Chris. There was an openness about him that caused those around him to relax."

Another said: "Chris, you were so caring, always thinking of others before yourself.

"I want to say thank you for all the good times, you will be missed forever."

Chris attended Almondsbury CE Primary School and headmaster Roger McLean spoke of happy memories of him sitting cross legged on the floor in assembly smiling up at him.

He said that when Chris was older he would help the young children at lunchtimes, cutting their food for them.

He had a great sense of humour and comic timing and loved drama and music. Mr McLean said: "This week I looked at the numerous floral tributes at the end of the driveway of his home and among them was a picture of Chris wearing a tee-shirt with "urban hero" on it.

"He was a community hero, a local hero. We should remember Chris as a quiet and truly local hero."

The congregation then sang the hymn Morning Has Broken and Rebecca Smith read a poem she had written.

Mr Rowe said that while Chris was a good talker he couldn't reveal the things closest to his heart and urged people to talk to one another.

He ended by reading verses one to four, chapter 21 from the Book of Revelation which begin "Then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth."

Prayers were said with the congregation joining in with the Lord's Prayer.

The final hymn was Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace before the mourners filed out to Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.

A party was held in Chris's honour at Almondsbury Social Club while his family and close friends attended a cremation service at Canford Crematorium.