Hundreds line streets for hero firefighter

Alan Bannon, 38, died tackling the fire at Shirley Towers in

His colleague James Shears, 35, from Poole, Dorset, also died at the same incident.

The funeral cortege left St Mary's Fire Station in Southampton and passed hundreds of mourners, including hundreds of off-duty

firefighters and members of the public, as it headed to St Mary's Church.

The coffin, draped in the fire service standard with Mr Bannon's firefighting helmet on top, was carried on a turntable ladder fire appliance accompanied by the pallbearers.

In front of the appliance was the fire service's group manager Stewart Adamson.

The appliance was followed by five limousines, with St Mary's station manager Dave Graham and members of Red Watch walking behind.

The St Mary's fire engine followed with the rest of the crews from the station on foot behind.

Margaret Bannon, the mother of Mr Bannon, said the family had lost a caring father, a loving son and a dear friend who always wanted to be a firefighter.

Mr Bannon, from Southampton, was married to Charlotte and father to five-year-old Abigail. He lived near his parents, Margaret and Patrick and sister, Lin, and joined Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2001.

His parents said in a statement: "There are sons and there are special sons. Alan was one of the special ones."

A joint fire service and police investigation is continuing to find out what caused the fire in flat 72 and how the men died.