MOURNERS packed out St Helens Crematorium for a "poignant celebration" of the life of dad-of-four Paul Gannon, who died after a courageous battle with cancer.

Paul, 39, from Sutton, passed away on Monday, August 3 at Whiston Hospital after being rushed to hospital the day before.

Earlier this year, the Star publicised a community campaign to raise £24,000 to fund three weeks of pioneering treatment in Mexico, which saw Paul, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2014, fly out in April.

Around 200 turned out for the funeral at the crematorium, joining Paul’s wife Julie, their four children Jazzmyn, 11, Megan, eight, Lewis, six and Leo, one and Paul’s parents Barbara and Rob who flew out to Mexico with him.

Paul’s brother-in-law and best friend John Wright, 40, referred to it as a “fitting celebration of his life”.

He said: “It was packed out and we played a couple of Bob Marley tracks and Paul and Julie’s wedding song was played.

“Saints sent Mike Rush and Scully down to the crem and afterwards they had a word with myself and Julie.

“We want to thank staff at Fisher and Dixon, they were fantastic and Saints too.

“We did the day for him and then went back to Sidac after and read a few letters the children had written to him. It was an upsetting day but fitting."

And John said the turnout meant a lot to Paul's grieving family through this extremely difficult time.

“Everything went perfectly for him. It meant so much for Julie and the family and friends have been going round every day and will continue to.

“It’s so hard to come to terms with it, even though we knew it would happen at some point.

"I have never met a person as strong as him, I would have given up a long time before. He's a real legend."