Hundreds pay tribute to Pc David Rathband‎

 

Family, friends and colleagues filled Stafford Crematorium to pay tribute to the former traffic officer, who was left blind after being shot by gunman Raoul Moat in 2010.

 The father-of-two, hailed a hero for his fundraising and his attempts to rebuild his life after losing his sight and a job he adored, hanged himself at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, on February 29.

The funeral service began in humorous style, with the Monty Python song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life playing as Pc Rathband's coffin was carried in.

His two teenage children, Ashley, 19, and Mia, 13, and their mother Kath - who split from Pc Rathband before his death, were among the mourners.

Humanist celebrant Carly Fee told the congregation that the policeman's family were "unanimous" that his funeral should be a celebration of his life.