TEARFUL mourners paid tribute to tragic student Joe Medforth's "love of life", during his packed funeral service.

Friends of the 21-year-old, from Ryther, between York and Selby, said they "felt cheated" he was taken from them at such a young age.

Every seat was taken, as hundreds of mourners squeezed into the emotional service at St Wilfred's Church, Brayton, to pay their respects to the former Tadcaster Grammar School pupil.

Joe, who was a psychology student at the University of Central Lancashire, died in Preston on July 17 following an alleged street attack. A double-decker bus full of his university friends made the journey from Preston for the funeral.

Joe's heartbroken mother, Susan, wrote a poem about her son, entitled Aching Sadness Now Visits My Heart, which she recorded and played at the service.

"I have no measure of time in my thoughts and

One day I shall hold you again my beautiful son," the poem said.

"So till then my dreams and faith will keep me strong."

Joe's sister, Laura, bravely continued singing the Eva Cassidy ballad, I Know You By Heart, despite the CD breaking down halfway through.

His psychology course representative, Kellie Cottam, gave an address on behalf of the university and his friends from Preston.

"We are a university in mourning and united to pay respects to Joe," she said.

"His death has touched so many, even those who don't know him that well. We feel like we've lost something."

Kellie read out a number of statements from Joe's housemates and classmates from Preston. They paid tribute to his sensitivity, kindness and easy-going nature.

A friend said: "He put the fun back into what was a fairly dull university course."

School friend Michael Snowdon told the congregation that Joe inspired him to take up martial arts.

"I haven't come here today to say goodbye, but to honour him," he said.

The Vicar of St Wilfrid's, the Rev David Reynolds, told the congregation: "We've come here today to this lovely old church where Joe was christened. We come in great sorrow and grief. Through his tragic and untimely death we shall remember Joe before God, and give thanks for the way in which his short life has touched the lives of so many."

The theme from Superman was played as mourners filed out of the church, as Joe was a huge fan of the action film.

A collection was taken for Barnardos and the church funds.

The Evening Press attended the funeral at the request of Joe's family.

Two people have been charged with Joe's murder. Carl Newton, 20, from Chorley, and Anthony Silcock, 19, from Preston, have been remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on October 25.

Updated: 10:28 Friday, August 12, 2005