HUNDREDS of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to a Newport man who died when the car he was travelling in plunged 100 feet into a disused quarry.

Karl Devlin, 21, from Malpas was one of the passengers of a BMW car that left the Swffryd Road between Llanhilleth and Hafodyrynys.

Mr Devlin's best friend, 19-year-old Alex Williams - also from Malpas - and 29-year-old Shane Powell from Pontypool were also passengers in the BMW driven by 47-year-old Jack Magee from Aberbeeg. All four men died in the accident.

Yesterday, during Mr Devlin's funeral at St Mary's Church in Malpas, scores of mourners had to stand outside because of the large turnout. In an emotional scene, relatives and friends lined the pathway leading to the church while a procession, led by Reverend Catherine Morris, and made up of coffin bearers and immediate family following behind, made their way inside to begin the service.

'The Lord's My Shepherd' was sung before Reverend Morris paid tribute to a life "tragically cut short".

She described Mr Devlin as a "people person who had many friends" and spoke of his love of motorbikes.

"Karl was at his happiest when he was covered in oil but unfortunately for his mother Pauline, the oil didn't always stay on Karl," said Rev Morris. She added: "For Karl's family, the last fortnight has seen some of the toughest times they have ever faced and we hope and pray it is the toughest time they will face."

The service ended with the hymn 'Amazing Grace'. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash and are focusing their attention on the specially adapted controls of the BMW that allowed paraplegic Jack Magee to drive it.

The people of Swffryd have also called for strengthened crash carriers to be installed along the road where they died to prevent another tragedy.