HUNDREDS of mourners filled Upton Parish Church yesterday (Thursday) to say their final farewells to a fun-loving teenager killed in a car crash.

Friends and family of 19-year-old Mikey Edwards listened as Baptist minister Paul McCabe led the service and delivered a tribute on behalf of parents John and Elaine.

He said that Mikey had crammed as much into his life as possible, “almost as if he knew his time was short”.

The congregation were told of Mikey singing karaoke with his brother Tom to Aerosmith song I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing during a holiday to Ibiza last year, and how that “summed up his short life”.

As the tribute concluded mourners were told: “Mikey was one of those people that will live in our hearts forever. Wherever you are, darling boy, keep smiling, keep singing, we all love you.”

His parents say they still wake up and go to bed every day missing their son.

“The pain we feel is indescribable,” said Mr Edwards. “We are only able to bear this pain thanks to the good people of Upton, our fantastic family, friends and colleagues who have given us the strength to carry on. We have received well over 100 cards, poems, and letters of support which have given us both great comfort. To each and everyone one of you, thank you so very much.”

Mikey died on Thursday, February 3 when his car collided with a tree on the B4211 near Longdon.

*To read the full story, see this week's Malvern Gazette.