Queen Street was closed off as, just before 10am, Lance Cpl David Kirkness's funeral cortege made its way through the town centre.

Led by three police motorcycle outriders the cortege travelled along Queensway and Queen Street to Morley Town Hall.

It was met by Royal British Legion Standard Bearers, representatives from Morley Town Council and huge numbers of ordinary Morley people.

Lance Cpl Kirkness's coffin was draped in the Union flag and accompanied by a wreath from his three-year-old daughter Brooke which spelled out 'Daddy'.

Two minutes of silence was observed and prayers were led on the steps of Morley Town Hall by town centre chaplain Deacon David Smith.

As the silence ended and the cars moved on the large crowd broke into spontaneous applause.

Town and city councillors were in attendance, as was Morley MP Colin Challen and President of the Morley branch of the Royal British Legion, Major Ashley Rawlings.

Also at the town hall was Simon Brown, the Morley war veteran shot and seriously injured while serving in Iraq.

But the greatest attendance was from the people of Morley, who came out in droves to honour Lance Cpl Kirkness.

Many shops in Queen Street closed temporarily as a mark of respect and as the cortege contined to make its way through the town centre roses were thrown on the car carrying his coffin by people lining the street.

People also stood to show their respect as the cars passed through Morley, Tingley and East Ardsley on their way to Wakefield for the funeral service at the city's cathedral.

Hundreds of people attended the service that his family and friends wanted to be a celebration of his life and many more listened outside on a public address system.

At the service, his three-year-old daughter Brooke and 14-year-old brother Christopher were presented with the first Elizabeth Cross to be awarded in West Yorkshire, by the county's Lord Lieutenant, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, as a symbol of the nation's gratitude and respect to Lance Cpl Kirkness and his family.

Paying tribute, his friend and colleague Cpl Joe Farrar said he was 'the best mate a man could wish for.'

He said: "Don't let today be one of sadness, let it be a celebration of his life. He was a great man who put a smile of the face of everyone he met. Today should be about that. That's the way I will remember him."

Major Andrew Child read the eulogy and touching tributes from fellow colleagues who described 'Kirky' as a man with a big heart, who was the life and soul of any party and loved to play practical jokes.

Major Child said: "He had an amazing ability to be positive, however difficult the situation. He lifted spirits and encouraged all those around him. He was instantly likable and his passion for life was infectious."

He said Lance Cpl Kirkness was a lovable rogue, adding: "He had a saying 'if you don't know me, hard luck,' and I agree with him. I feel honoured to have known him and privileged to have worked along side him."

Readings were given at the service by the Mayor of Morley Coun Shirley Varley, Colonel Brian Denney and Colonel Ted Shields MBE who led the Regimental Collect of the Rifles.

Wakefield Cathedral's Sub Dean, Canon Michael Rawson, then gave the address.

He spoke of Lance Cpl Kirkness's love of the army and described him as a man people trusted and admired.

But he said he was a family man as well as a soldier. He called on mourners to spare a thought for 'daddy's princess,' Brooke, who has lost a loving father, and his girlfriend Melanie Maclean, who discovered after his death that he was planning to propose.

People who had struggled to fight back the tears broke down as the Last Post was sounded before Lance Cpl Kirkness's coffin was led out of the Cathedral to the sound of Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve.

After the service, which was also attended by Normanton MP Ed Balls, Wakefield MP Mary Creagh and the leader of Wakefield Council Peter Box, the cortege left for a private service at Wakefield Crematorium to the sound of applause from crowds who had gathered outside.

Lance Cpl Kirkness died in a sucide bomb blast in Afghanistan on December 15.

* See tomorrow's Observer and Advertiser for more on this story.