Funeral for racing fan

Shaun Williams worked on the production line at Zest Foods in Newtown

The funeral has taken place of one of the mid Wales men killed in a road crash in the Netherlands on their way to the Belgian Grand Prix.

Shaun Williams, who was 28, died with his friends Jonathan Chandler and Dean Andrews when their car was struck from behind by another vehicle in Rotterdam.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at St David's Church, in Newtown, for the service at lunchtime on Monday.

The funerals of Mr Chandler, who was also 28, and 34 year-old Mr Andrews, will take place later in the week.

All three men lived in Newtown, although Mr Williams was originally from Shropshire.

Newtown mayor, Councillor Les Skilton, said: "This is a very sad week for the town as all three men will be buried either today (Monday) or during the next few days.

"All three deaths have had an impact on the town."

They were travelling to the Belgian Grand Prix when the accident happened on 29 August.

Dutch police arrested and later released a 47-year-old Portuguese man living in Holland in connection with the crash.

Their recommendation on a charge has been sent to the local district attorney.

Mr Williams had a partner Claire and two children, Alix and Jay. He was a keen supporter of Everton Football Club.

The men had stopped behind a car which hit the central barrier

He worked with fellow crash victim Mr Andrews on the production line of a food firm in Newtown.

The accident is believed to have happened after a motorist lost control of her car and hit the central reservation of the A16 motorway near Rotterdam.

The three men managed to stop their car in time to avoid a collision - but their vehicle was then hit from behind by a third car.

Two of the men died on their way to hospital. The third arrived at the hospital in a critical condition but died later.

Dyfed-Powys Police have been liaising with Dutch police and the victims' families.

Work colleagues of the men at Zest Foods in Newtown, who were shocked by the tragedy, have paid tribute to all three.