HUNDREDS of people have turned up to pays their respect to a young Rhyl man who was killed on his first holiday with friends in Tenerife.

Between two and three hundred people attended St Thomas' Church, on Russell Road in Rhyl, on Friday, September 20 for the funeral of former Rhyl High and Coleg Llandrillo pupil Michael Lewis.

Michael - an only child who was also known as Liam Boland to his Irish family and ‘Brillo’ to friends in London - died on Thursday, August 22 aged 23 after being attacked in the street.

Michael’s aunt, Karen Hughes, said: “The fact that so many people turned up to pay their respects shows how much Michael meant to so many different people and that Michael was such a good friend to people from all walks of life.

"There were nine people who travelled up from his workplace at Brown & Carroll, about 16 from his local in London the Boston Arms as well as member of his Irish family from London,. Ireland and even America. There even friends of his who were at university who travelled back, and three of his friends who were in Tenerife with him."

Following the services at St Thomas' and at the St Asaph Crematorium, a wake was held at Michael's former Rhyl local the Bodfor Pub, which was similarly packed out with people.

Mrs Hughes added: " One of the most touching moments was in the Bodfor afterwards, where we had arranged hundreds of photos of Michael to be shown while we played his favourite songs. Everybody came into the pub and watched in silence. It meant a lot to the family and his mother Julie.

"Julie was obviously distraught, but she couldn't stop looking at the photos and loved seeing all the people looking at them.

"While it doesn't give us closure because the trial begins in a few months, it gave the family a lot of comfort. It doesn't replace Michael, bu8t the respect everyone showed him was nice."

The family of Michael, an organ donor, are accepting donations for donorfamilynetwork.co.uk.