TEARFUL friends and family packed a Caldicot church to say an emotional goodbye to Joel Andrews.

Mr Andrews, 25, was found dead, six weeks after going missing while at a rave on Dartmoor.

On Wednesday, July 20, friends, family and well-wishers attended his funeral at St Mary's Church, Caldicot, the church where he was baptised.

Liverpool football anthem You'll Never Walk Alone played as Mr Andrews' coffin, draped with a Liverpool shirt, was carried into the church.

The Reverend Dennis Richards welcomed the congregation to the service and gave thanks on behalf of the family to the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (Plymouth), Global Rescue Services (Water Dogs) and SAM (Social Alert Me), as well as Gwent Police family liaison officer Claire Offers and the people of Chagford, where Mr Andrews' body was found.

Sara Bannister, Mr Andrews' girlfriend, gave an emotional tribute, describing Mr Andrews as a "loving angel" and asked people to dance in his memory as his soul would be with them.

She said she still saw her boyfriend's face in her head and felt his presence around her.

Mr Richards read the poem Footprints in the Sand, before a song by the same name sung by Leona Lewis was played.

Mr Andrews' brother-in-law, Marc Deakin read a tribute on behalf of Mr Andrews' siblings, Carleigh, Gareth and Chris, recollecting their childhood memories and Mr Andrews's love of Liverpool FC and rugby.

Rob Theobald, who attended Caldicot Comprehensive School with Mr Andrews, said being at school with Mr Andrews meant you had no choice but to enjoy yourself, and said although they had a mock Welsh/English rivalry when it came to rugby, Mr Andrews's described him as the "safest English man"he had ever met.

Mr Richards spoke of Mr Andrews' love of music and dancing, before the coffin was carried out to the strains of Human by The Killers.

The service was followed by a private cremation and a wake at The Tippling Philosopher, Caldicot.