DOZENS of mourners paid their last respects to Who bass player John Entwistle yesterday.

The 57-year-old musician, whose father, Herbert, and stepmother, Dora, live in Rhiwderin, near Newport, was found dead from an apparent heart attack in his hotel room in Las Vegas last month - on the eve of a US tour by the group.

A large crowd yesterday gathered outside St Edward's Church, in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, where Entwistle lived. Floral tributes outside the church spoke of his great friendship and musical talent, and included a large arrangement reading "Ox RIP".

Entwistle, who was the quietest member of the influential rock group, was known as the Ox.

Mourners attending the private service included the two remaining members of The Who, guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey.

Also among those who filed into church was Kenny Jones, the drummer, who replaced Keith Moon after his death in 1978.

Entwistle's coffin was followed into the church by members of his family, including his girlfriend, Lisa Pritchard-Johnson.

The service began with words from the Rev Colin Wilson, a family friend, who said: "I think he would want us all to be strong, determined, unafraid of the future, ready to meet every challenge, to believe in ourselves and in each other and to try to keep believing in God, even if that seems rather difficult at present."

He said Entwistle was now "reunited with Keith up there, making great music". Following a reading of a Joyce Grenfell poem, which urged mourners to go on with life, the hymn Jerusalem was sung.

After the musician's death, his stepmother, Dora, 87, told the Argus: "It's really sad, he was a lovely man and was still so young, really. We are going to miss him."

PICTURED: Pallbearers carry the coffin into church.