A MOTORCADE of cabbies accompanied popular taxi-driver Mike Tunley through Newport to his final resting place today.

The funeral of Mr Tunley, killed almost two weeks ago when his cab was in collision with a car, took place this morning at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Stow Hill, Newport.

The cortege, followed by around 150 taxi-drivers in their cabs, was due to travel through the town's taxi-rank in the middle of the bus station as a mark of respect.

Following Requiem Mass at St Mary's, the cortege then mader its way to Christchurch Cemetery for the burial, avoiding the road where Mr Tunley died.

Friend and colleague Roger Nolan said Mr Tunley was hugely respected among the taxi drivers of Newport, both independents and company staff.

"I was a colleague of Mike's for 26 years and there were only about four of the original Hackney carriage licensees left from the original days," he said. "Mike was a steady driver and so well-liked."

Mr Tunley, aged 58, died just after midnight on Sunday, July 8 in the collision at the junction of Caerleon Road and Church Road.

One man is facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and another is accused of affray in relation to an incident before in the town centre.

A Police Complaints Authority inquiry has been launched into the incident, which involved Mr Tunley's car, a Volkswagen Golf and a police van.

Last week, Mr Tunley's distraught family spoke to the Argus of their loss. He leaves a widow, Eileen, and three children - Matthew, 21, Christopher, 29, and Emma, 26 - and ten grandchildren.

Eileen Tunley said: "To us he was an ordinary family man who loved his children and grandchildren."

The cortege left Mr Tunley's home at 9.30am. After passing through the taxi rank, it made its way to the church via Kingsway, Queensway, Bridge Street, North Street, Havelock Street and Stow Hill.