The heavy rain on Thursday at St Mary's RC Church in Euxton, near Chorley, failed to hide the tears of mourners at the funeral of 21-year-old Sean Stewart, who was killed in a car crash with his best friend John Marsden, 20, on September 24.

His family asked that those attending wore their 'going out' clothes, saying that's what fun-loving Sean would have wanted.

But for the location and the obvious outpouring of emotion it could have been a Friday or Saturday night as the mourners filed into church in jeans and smart shirts or high heels and colourful dresses.

However there was no disguising their grief as, one by one, they took to the lectern to pay their own tribute.

Sean's heartbroken girlfriend, who was known as Nicola, spoke in a faltering voice as she paraphrased the line 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get' from the film Forrest Gump when describing her boyfriend.

"Sometimes with Sean you got a coffee cream," she said, "but I never thought that the box would be empty.

"He was my best friend, my mentor, my future, and my whole life. He had faith in me and pushed me forward.

"Please take care of my special man."

Sean's brother Sam, 24, had just got back form holiday when he heard the news that Sean and John had been killed in a crash in Dawber's Lane, Euxton.

He accompanied sister Stephanie to read the anonymous poem 'Miss me, but let me go.'

The service started with a procession led by two of Sean's friends in a white Honda Type R as it travelled slowly along Wigan Road and came to a halt outside the church.

Friends and family lined up behind in silent tribute.

The funeral ended with the Jamelia song 'Something about you', which included the lyrics "You make me laugh one thousand ways," "I'm enchanted by your smile," and "There's something about you and you don't even know it."

The funeral of John Marsden takes place today, also at Euxton St Mary's RC Church. His body is to laid in an adjacent grave to Sean's.

Donations in memory of Sean, nicknamed 'Emock', can be made to the funeral directors B Livesey Ltd, which will be forwarded to the charity Brakecare.

If you would a tribute to Sean or John published email your comments to christopher.maguire@lep.co.uk