Family and friends from across the world filled St Matthew's church in Kingsley to say goodbye to Will Inns, 26, who was killed by falling timber while travelling on the A508 at Boughton at the end of July.

Will's friends bore his wicker coffin into the church to a specially chosen up-beat song before the Rev Jenny Parkin began the service, which included the poem He Is Gone.

"Will is and always will be an inspiration. He always wanted to have a go at anything. He was a thoughtful, sensitive boy who dazzled everyone who met him," Sally Inns, Will's mother, said in her tribute.

"Will had a style all of his own. He was rarely seen without a hat and charmed everyone who met him. I feel privileged to be his mother and he was always affectionate to me.

"He never felt self-conscious about hugging his mum.

"Now, he really is on top of the world looking down on creation and will be in my heart forever."

Samantha Barley, Will's eldest sister, also wrote a piece based on her brother's frequent travelogues that he sent to friends and families.

The diaries, called Will's World, kept his relatives up to date with his travels and were always signed off, "mind the roads".

In the reading, Mrs Barley, who was inspired to skydive by her brother, summed up Will's beliefs: "Learn from others and listen. If it scares you, try it, for experience make us stronger."

A memorial service also took place in Queensland, Australia, yesterday, where Will once worked.

He also spent time in Pertisau, Austria, where he learnt to paraglide.

Close family attended a brief ceremony at the Counties Crematorium yesterday afternoon before holding a celebration of Will's life.

A memorial fund has also been set up in Will's name and donations can be made to B Hollowell and Son Funeral Directors, 148 Beech Avenue, Northampton, NN3 2JN, or by calling Northampton 792222.

The University of Northampton graduate leaves behind his parents Bryan and Sally Inns, and siblings Jeremy, 33, Samantha, 30, Ellie, 23, and Daisy 18.