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Flood death officer laid to rest | Flood death officer laid to rest |
(10 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of people are attending the funeral of a Cumbria Police officer who died while helping others during last week's floods. | Hundreds of people are attending the funeral of a Cumbria Police officer who died while helping others during last week's floods. |
Pc Bill Barker had gone to the aid of a motorist on Northside Bridge in Workington when it collapsed. | Pc Bill Barker had gone to the aid of a motorist on Northside Bridge in Workington when it collapsed. |
The hearse was escorted to St Mary and St Michael's Church in his home town of Egremont by motorcyclists from the force's roads policing unit. | The hearse was escorted to St Mary and St Michael's Church in his home town of Egremont by motorcyclists from the force's roads policing unit. |
Ten officers made a guard of honour as the coffin was carried into the church. | Ten officers made a guard of honour as the coffin was carried into the church. |
'Brave man' | |
It was draped with a union jack flag with Pc Barker's helmet on top. | |
Six officers and close personal friends acted as pallbearers. | Six officers and close personal friends acted as pallbearers. |
Pc Barker had been with the Cumbria force for 25 years | |
The service is being attended by hundreds of friends and colleagues as well as family members. | |
Mourners lined the streets of the town as the cortege passed. | |
Following the service conducted by Reverend Richard Lee, there will be an interment at Egremont Cemetery. | |
Pc Barker was described by the prime minister as a "heroic, very brave man who died trying to save the lives of others". | |
Witnesses said the father-of-four had gone to the aid of a car on Northside Bridge when it collapsed on 20 November. | |
His body was later found on a beach 10 miles away, on the ever of his 45th birthday. |