Ricky Hatton: Liam Gallagher and Wayne Rooney among stars at funeral for boxing champion

Liam Gallagher, Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney were among those who attended the funeral of boxing champion Ricky Hatton.

While famous faces and family gathered at Manchester cathedral for the private memorial service, thousands of people lined the streets on Friday morning to pay their respects as the procession passed.

The procession was led by a Reliant Regal - the yellow three-wheeler made famous on the show Only Fools And Horses - which Hatton famously owned and used to drive.

Ricky Hatton funeral as it happened

As the funeral cortege passed the site of the pub Hatton's parents, Ray and Carol Hatton, used to own and where he used to train in the basement - known back then as The New Inn - doves were released.

Outside the church a brass band played Winter Wonderland, synonymous with the chant "There's Only One Ricky Hatton", which rang round the many stadiums Hatton fought in.

The service was played to the crowds outside the cathedral, during which Hatton's three children Campbell, Fearne and Millie, each paid tribute to their dad.

Campbell, who has followed his father to become a boxer, said: "I can't explain how much I'm going to miss you, Dad, and that we won't be making any new memories - but the ones we did I will cherish forever."

A statement from Hatton's mother was read on her behalf, in which she described her son as "our little champion from the day he was born".

Also pictured attending the service included Happy Mondays's Shaun Ryder and Mark 'Bez' Berry, reality TV personality Calum Best, comedian Paddy McGuinness, former cricket star Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff and actor Dean Gaffney.

Boxer Frazer Clarke and former boxers Frank Bruno, Amir Khan, Scott Welch and Anthony Crolla were also at the funeral, as was pundit and former footballer Chris Kamara.

Following the service, the funeral procession made its way to the Etihad Stadium, the home of Hatton's beloved Manchester City football club.

It was met by crowds applauding and singing.

'I was in awe of him'

Tributes poured in across the world of sport and beyond after Hatton's death aged 46 at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on 14 September.

The former world champion - nicknamed "The Hitman" - had only announced in July that he planned to come out of retirement in December for his first professional fight in 13 years.

Speaking to Sky News outside the church, former boxer Tony Bellew said he "was in awe" of Hatton when he first watched him training.

"I've watched thousands of fighters train over the years, hundreds of thousands. And after watching him... I was in awe of him. He was the standard - everything he did," he said.

"There are thousands that have turned out today, not hundreds. That speaks volumes."

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