ELEVEN days after Newport man Matt Carver married his university sweetheart in a touching ceremony, his family and friends attended his funeral.

More than 500 mourners packed Newport Cathedral to celebrate the life of the 22-year-old who died from leukaemia on August 1, just a day after his wedding to Nicola.

His death followed an eight-month battle against the disease and a high-profile search for a bone marrow donor.

Mr Carver's funeral service was led by Reverend Graeme Richardson, chaplain of Brasenose College, Oxford, where Mr Carver was studying for a master’s degree in medieval history.

Mr Carver, from the Gaer, was diagnosed with the disease in January. He married Nicola, who he met while studying at Oxford University, in the college chapel on July 31.

Nicola’s father Bryon Godfrey paid tribute his son-in-law, describing his love for playing the tuba, Norwich City football club and rowing.

“He was an amazing young man and I have no doubt he would not just have been a son in-law but a close friend as well,” he said.

The congregation sang Immortal, Invisible, Lord Of All Hopefulness and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

Mr Carver’s widow Nicola, his mother, Teresa, father, Hilary, and sisters Emily, 14, and Abi, nine, were among those who followed the coffin up the aisle.

His family, who attend the cathedral regularly, launched a search for a bone marrow donor match after his diagnosis and set up a clinic at his old school, Gaer Junior School, to find a donor.

Mr Carver was buried at St Woolos cemetery after the service. The congregation made donations in lieu of flowers to Leukaemia Research and The Anthony Nolan Trust on their way out.