Funeral for helicopter crash boy

Ben Porcelli was a friend of Colin McRae's son Johnny

Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a six-year-old boy who died in the helicopter crash which killed rally driver Colin McRae.

Ben Porcelli died when the aircraft went down in Lanarkshire last weekend.

Mr McRae, 39, had been piloting the helicopter and the crash also claimed the lives of his five-year-old son Johnny and friend Graeme Duncan, 37.

After the accident, parents Mark and Karen Porcelli said their son was "the best boy in the world".

Mr McRae's helicopter crashed in the grounds of his Jerviswood home, about a mile north of Lanark, at 1610 BST on Saturday, 15 September.

He loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh Revered Steven Reid

Ben's funeral was held at Greyfriars Kirk in Lanark.

Mr McRae's widow, Alison, and their nine-year-old daughter, Hollie, were among the 500 mourners, along with the rally driver's father, Jimmy.

Tributes at the 45-minute service for Ben were led by his school chaplain, the Reverend Steven Reid.

The minister told mourners of an energetic boy who loved fishing, swimming and the martial art Taekwondo.

Ben was described as a bright pupil who wore his heart on his sleeve and always said what he thought.

Mr Reid said: "He loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh. And he did.

Mark Porcelli [front] carries the coffin of his son Ben

"There will be a hole in the lives of Mark, Karen and Carly, a hole in the lives of his grandparents and a hole in the lives of his wider family circle and friends at Underbank School.

"Surely something of that hole can be filled up by the treasured memories of a remarkable, happy, energetic, loving boy."

A children's fund has now been set up in memory of Ben.

Those at the service were asked to contribute to the Jerviswood Trust, which will collect money on behalf of CHAS, the Make a Wish Foundation and Bravehearts Children's Trust.

A note on the back of the order of service said: "Karen, Mark and Carly would like to thank you for your comforting presence here today and thank all those who have offered love and support to them over the last week."

The McRae family have announced that there will be a private funeral service for the rally driver and his son.

Details have not yet been released.

A memorial service for the pair will take place at 1600 BST at St Nicholas Parish Church, in Lanark, on Sunday.

It will be relayed to crowds in the town's High Street, which will be closed to traffic.

The wreckage of the helicopter has been moved to Farnborough for examination by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.