Hundreds of people paid their respects as they remembered a “larger than life” young man who died in a car crash near St Neots.

Ryan Stringer’s mother and father – Sally and Andrew Stringer – thanked the family and friends who attended his funeral on Thursday (March 27) for their support.

Ryan, of Vicarage Walk, Great Staughton, was on his way to work on March 13 when he was killed in an accident on the Great Staughton Road between the village and Pertenhall. His Seat Ibiza ended up in a ditch and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

About 460 family members and friends packed into St Andrew’s Parish Church for the funeral service of the former Longsands School pupil.

Mrs Stringer told The Hunts Post: “It was just astounding – it was so helpful to us to know that so many people respected him that much. I want everyone to know just how much of a help it was to us to think that he touched so many people. He would have been really humbled by all the people that came.”

She added: “It’s kind of unreal really because he was so loud and you always knew when he was around. We still keep waiting for him to come through the door.”

She thanked his family, friends, and the police family liaison officers for their comfort. She also wanted to thank the two people who stopped separately to try to revive her son.

Ryan, who also leaves behind his girlfriend Fallon, 19, and his sisters Emma, 20, and Chloe, 14, was a ground worker by trade and a keen darts player who “travelled miles” for the sport.

He was “very funny” and would often do impressions to make his family laugh, Mrs Stringer said.

Mrs Stringer added that some of his darts friends are planning to have a plaque made in his honour while his former school, Great Staughton Primary School, also wants to put up a foam darts board in his memory.