HUNDREDS of mourners pack a Valleys church to pay their last respects to a local teenager tragically killed.

Richard Egan, 19 of Hilltop, Ebbw Vale died when the Ford Fiesta he was driving collided with a Mercedes Box van on the A465 near Brynmawr on Friday, December 21.

The Zion Baptist Church on Briery Hill was full with over 300 people and many more outside as the youngster's coffin was brought in draped in a Welsh flag and a pair of boxing gloves to the sounds of Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love.

Rev Martin Gillard told the congregation how Mr Egan loved cars, motor cross and all types of music ranging from Eminem to chart music and his parent's Lionel Richie collection.

His main love though was boxing with coach Peter Goss telling of the talented athletes bouts that included the final of the Welsh Schoolboy Boxing Championships in 2003.

In all though the theme was of an extremely popular and friendly teenager with church officials commenting that they had never seen so many youngsters in the compact venue before.

The hymns Cwm Rhondda and Old Rugged Cross were sung as emotion ran free.

Neighbour and friend Llynfi Richards also spoke of a young man most at home among family and friends with this illustrated on the order of service with Mr Egan pictured with his siblings Shaun, Liam, Kayleigh and Alesha.

Parents Richard and Denise thanked all in the service notes for letters, cards and floral tributes as R Kelly's Turn Back the Hands of Time played as the coffin was carried out.

Mourners then lined the streets as the procession, followed by friends riding their motorbikes in tribute, made its way to Ebbw Vale cemetery.