TRAFFIC stopped and commuters stood aside as more than 300 mourners joined a funeral cortege through Newport yesterday.

The solemn procession followed the coffin of popular Newport man Darren Ayland, 40, from The Picton pub along Commercial Road in Pill to St Stephen's Church where his funeral service took place.

Mr Ayland died of a heart attack in Spain two weeks ago - just months after starting a new life abroad. After his sudden death, friends rallied round and raised more than £2,000 to bring his body home to Newport.

Yesterday they joined his family to say goodbye to the former welder who had been working as a security guard in Spain.

Mourners, including former Wales football international Nathan Blake, sang hymns The Old Rugged Cross and Bread of Heaven.

Father Edward Mathias-Jones said Mr Ayland's premature death didn't "seem at all fair".

He said that Mr Ayland, who leaves two sisters and an eight-year-old son Sonny, would be reunited with his late mother Mary and late father Trevor.

"That there are so many of you here present is testimony to the popularity of Darren, or Dazza," he said.

"He loved his rugby and enjoyed his horses and found peace at last in Spain."

Mr Ayland was originally from Ringland and attended Hartridge High School and played rugby for Hartridge.

On behalf of Mr Aylan's family Father Mathias-Jones thanked all those who had helped raise funds to return his body to Newport.

Following the service Mr Ayland's coffin was draped in flowers, with one floral tribute spelling his name and another in the shape of a rugby ball, before making the journey to Gwent Crematorium.