Nearly 600 people said goodbye to Maryport stabbing victim William Richardson.

Row upon row of young men in white shirts and ties stood side by side, stony-faced or wiping tears away as one of their peers was carried into the town's St Mary's Church in a coffin bedecked with flowers and a pair of red boxing gloves, followed by family members.

Mr Richardson's North West championship boxing belt was carried proudly over the shoulder of one of the mourners.

The service was taken by the Rev Mary Day, who spoke of a man who went to the gym every day and who loved distance running, orienteering and boxing.

But most of all, he was a man who loved his family - his partner, his sons, stepsons, parents, sister, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and especially all the children.

He had two sons of his own, Alex and Lewis, and was also "daddy" to his partner Amy's son, Mayson.

"He loved his family and was not afraid to show it," Miss Day said.

She said William and his girlfriend Amy had just arrived back in Maryport after a holiday in Italy for a family wedding.

She said: "He had a last weekend with his sons when he returned. He took them to Cave in the Wave.

"The last few days have been incredibly hard.

"I cannot understand why he was robbed of life and we were robbed of him."

But she reminded his friends and family of the love he had and the light he brought into all their lives.

She read from 1 Corinthians 13, the passage about perfect love.

"William probably didn't know it but that is what he gave. God's heart is broken as ours. Jesus, his son, also died unfairly."

She said she hoped that the grief, anger and sorrow could once more turn to hope and celebration of his life "and that we never forget this special man."

Mr Richardson, 34,was stabbed outside the Maryport Labour Club in Senhouse Street in the early hours of Tuesday, August 7.

He died in the Cumberland Infirmary the following day.

Sean Morrin, 23, of Nelson Street in Maryport, has been charged with murder and will appear at Carlisle Crown Court next Tuesday, August 29.

Donations were taken at the funeral service for Cumberland Infirmary Intensive Care Unit and for the Maryport Boxing Club.