Liam Gallagher, Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney were among those who attended the funeral of boxing champion Ricky Hatton.
While famous faces and family gathered at Manchester cathedral for the private memorial service, thousands of people lined the streets on Friday morning to pay their respects as the procession passed.
The procession was led by a Reliant Regal – the yellow three-wheeler made famous on the show Only Fools And Horses – which Hatton famously owned and used to drive.
Ricky Hatton funeral as it happened
As the funeral cortege passed the site of the pub Hatton’s parents, Ray and Carol Hatton, used to own and where he used to train in the basement – known back then as The New Inn – doves were released.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Outside the church a brass band played Winter Wonderland, synonymous with the chant “There’s Only One Ricky Hatton”, which rang round the many stadiums Hatton fought in.
The service was played to the crowds outside the cathedral, during which Hatton’s three children Campbell, Fearne and Millie, each paid tribute to their dad.
Campbell, who has followed his father to become a boxer, said: “I can’t explain how much I’m going to miss you, Dad, and that we won’t be making any new memories – but the ones we did I will cherish forever.”
A statement from Hatton’s mother was read on her behalf, in which she described her son as “our little champion from the day he was born”.
Also pictured attending the service included Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder and Mark ‘Bez’ Berry, reality TV personality Calum Best, comedian Paddy McGuinness, former cricket star Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and actor Dean Gaffney.
Boxer Frazer Clarke and former boxers Frank Bruno, Amir Khan, Scott Welch and Anthony Crolla were also at the funeral, as was pundit and former footballer Chris Kamara.
North of England correspondent
As Ricky Hatton’s hearse moved through the streets of Manchester, some of the greatest names in British boxing began to climb the steps of the cathedral.
From Tyson Fury to Frank Bruno, Amir Khan to Tony Bellew, a collection of champions arrived to pay their respects.
In a testament to how Hatton’s legacy went beyond boxing, Liam Gallagher of Oasis was also there, as well as Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester.
But this wasn’t just a service in tribute to “Ricky the hitman”, who fought under the brightest lights.
This was a tribute to Richard Hatton, the people’s champion, who meant so much to this city, and died at 46.
As the service was played over a sound system, many of the people gathered wiped their eyes and bowed their heads as they heard tributes from Hatton’s loved ones.
Many of the people outside were wearing the sky blue of Manchester City, mourning one of their own.
Some had met him. Like the man whose son was a boxer and benefited from Hatton’s advice, or the two women who would grab a pint and a picture with him at City games.
For one of them, the night he won the world title in Manchester Arena remains a moment, she will never forget.
When the coffin was loaded back into the hearse for a final journey through Manchester to the Etihad, the crowd parted and applauded, before one last rendition of walking in a Hatton wonderland played by a band.
This was a send-off for not just a great fighter, but a great Mancunian, who brought so many people here on his journey to becoming a legend.
Following the service, the funeral procession made its way to the Etihad Stadium, the home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City football club.
It was met by crowds applauding and singing.
‘I was in awe of him’
Tributes poured in across the world of sport and beyond after Hatton’s death aged 46 at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on 14 September.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The former world champion – nicknamed “The Hitman” – had only announced in July that he planned to come out of retirement in December for his first professional fight in 13 years.
Speaking to Sky News outside the church, former boxer Tony Bellew said he “was in awe” of Hatton when he first watched him training.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
“I’ve watched thousands of fighters train over the years, hundreds of thousands. And after watching him… I was in awe of him. He was the standard – everything he did,” he said.
“There are thousands that have turned out today, not hundreds. That speaks volumes.”
