RUGBY league stars past and present turned out in force to pay their respects to their friend and former teammate Steve Prescott.

Members of the England rugby league squad including the Burgess brothers, Ryan Hall and coach Steve McNamara took time out of their training schedule to travel to a rainy St Helens to take their place inside Lowe House Church.

The town has never seen such an event where so many former teammates and current players have attended.

The list of names spanned the recent history of rugby league from Kevin Sinfield and Sam Tomkins to Neil Holding, Alan Hunte, Kel Coslett and Phil Veivers.

Some mingled with the huge crowd on North Road during the service as Steve’s coffin was finally driven away to the bells of Lowe House chiming ‘O When the Saints Go Marching In’.