A TOWN centre fell silent as more than 100 people walked behind a horse-drawn hearse in tribute to a popular Millom teenager with a "contagious personality".  

Family and friends of the late Christian Pay held a walking funeral procession to pay their respects to the 18-year-old yesterday. (Wednesday) 

The procession to St George’s Church in Millom also featured BMX bikes and a ‘Bundies’ teddy bear tribute.

Those on foot then joined hundreds more people already inside the church. So many people had attended that the church was full, with many friends stood at the back and out into the foyer. 

Christian died at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle on Friday July 31, after taking an unknown substance at Kendal Calling music festival. 

The teen was the devoted and treasured son of Debbie Pay and the much loved brother of Adam and Chloe. 

He was an ex pupil of Millom School and had been studying motor vehicle maintenance at Furness College in Barrow. 

The floral tributes included a blue Nike Air trainer. The young pallbearers also wore matching Nike Air t.shirts. Friend Laura Tomlinson received a rapturous applause and had the gathering in laughter as she paid tribute by recalling her own, and other friends’, memories of Christian. 

She said ‘Chris’ had a “contagious personality” and “it did not matter what your background or past, he would always make you feel at home”. Laura described him as a “gateway” “bringing friendships groups together”. She remembered his “lively personality,” and the way he “made everyone laugh”. 

Laura asked her late friend: “If your theory is true, please can you tell us if Tupac is actually alive?” 

Reverend Alan Bing led the service, saying it was hard to explain how a life could be cut short at such a young age, but that Christian was at peace and entrusted with God. 

Music featured strongly in the service, Christian’s coffin included a headphones design, and some mourners chose to wear t.shirts of music artists, such as Jimi Hendrix and ACDC. During the service the songs played were Through Glass by Stone Sour, Rear View by Tupac and featuring Phil Collins, Who wants to live forever by Queen and Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. Mourners left the church consoling one another and many walked over the hill for Christian’s burial in Millom Cemetery.

Donations were going to North West Paramedics.