Funeral for stabbing victim Kiyan

Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects

More than 750 mourners gathered for the funeral of a promising young footballer who was stabbed outside his school.

Family and friends of Kiyan Prince filled the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Holloway, north London for a service to celebrate his life on Thursday.

Pallbearers carrying the white coffin passed through crowds of people forced to stand outside the church.

Kiyan was 15 when he died, near the London Academy in Edgware. A boy, aged 16, has been charged with his murder.

Many of those attending the service on Thursday wore pink, Kiyan's favourite colour, while floral tributes in the shapes of footballs and football shirts were laid.

He was a beautiful young man, the kind of which in 22 years in schools I have never seen before London Academy head teacher, Phil Hearne

Kiyan was a striker on the Queens Park Rangers youth team and had been described as "one for the future" by the club.

Addressing the congregation, Kiyan's father Mark said his son was "not just a prince by name".

"As a prince, you have to conduct yourself as a prince, deal with people with love, and Kiyan really did," he said.

"If any of you young people want to look up to somebody and have a role model, use my son, he epitomised success in every area of his life."

Kiyan played as a striker for QPR's youth team

Mr Prince also said that Kiyan had been nicknamed "the bullet" because of his speed at Watling Boys FC where he was the club's top scorer.

A two-minute silence was held at the London Academy to mark the start of the funeral.

Head teacher Phil Hearne said Kiyan was an "almost eccentric" character who was known and loved by staff and students alike.

"He was a beautiful young man, the kind of which in 22 years in schools I have never seen before," he said.

"It did not matter to him anyone's age or religion, whether they were black, white or Asian.

"If they needed help and he thought he could help them, he did his best."

A cortege made its way from the church for a private burial service at New Southgate Cemetery.