RUGBY players and fans from Keighley and Cowling bade farewell to a young player killed in a car accident.

More than 100 people gathered outside Keighley Shared Church yesterday as Christopher Young’s funeral cortege arrived festooned in the Keighley Cougars colours.

A team shirt was laid over the 24-year-old Cougars fan’s coffin and balloons in the team colours were attached to the top.

A number of mourners wore shirts representing various rugby teams, including the Cougars and Christopher’s own former team the Cowling Harlequins.

Well-wishers formed a line as former Keighley man Christopher’s coffin was carried into the church for the service led by the Rev Jonathan Pritchard.

The convoy of funeral vehicles, which had drawn up across the square in front of the church, displayed England pennants.

Lifelong rugby player Christopher was a member of the Harlequins before moving to Bedford last year to live with his girlfriend Sally.

He was killed in a car accident on the A1 in Lincolnshire last month.

Christopher was born in 1991 and lived first in Beechcliffe before his family moved to Oakworth.

He played for the Cougar Cubs in Keighley until he was 18, then played for the Northampton University team The Gremlins for four years while taking media studies.