HUNDREDS of mourners gathered to say a tearful goodbye to tragic hit-and-run victim Sean Hamilton today.

The football-mad ten-year-old was killed when he was struck by a blue Ford Transit while walking home from a trip to the cinema two weeks ago.

His love of football was reflected at his funeral at Our Lady's Church in Gale Lane, Acomb, today as friends and family fought through their grief to pay tribute to the “special and cherished” Foxwood youngster.

Sean's coffin was topped in a floral red-and-white football arrangement and the majority of the congregation wore the shirts of Manchester United, his favourite team.

His parents Sharon, 37, and Ronnie, 45, looked visibly shaken and Sean's sisters, Kerry-Ann, 18, Stephanie, 12, and brother Ryan, 16, clasped hands and wiped away tears as they followed the coffin into the church. Sean's fellow Year Six pupils from Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary School and his team-mates at Acorn Rugby League Club were also among those paying their respects, with floral tributes reading “Sean”, “son” and “bruv” placed next to the coffin.

Father Pat Smith, leading the service, described a Sean as a “kind, bright and funny” youngster who would never be forgotten.

Sean's classmates chose his favourite hymn, Shine Jesus Shine, to be played as the congregation left the service, with his family releasing four white doves from the church's garden.