SOMBRE Bolton police officers stood to attention and paid tribute to one of their own.

That was the scene as scores of police men and women -- who had counted Sgt Mick Bradford as their colleague and friend -- said their final goodbye.

The 44-year-old officer, based at Middle Hulton police station, was killed in a motorbike crash on the Kirkham by-pass in Lancashire.

Tragically, it means the dedicated policeman will not see the results of months of hard work developing pioneering schemes to improve lives of youngsters in his beat area.

And the father-of-two will never know what his efforts to help secure thousands of pounds of cash to regenerate Deane and Middle Hulton will have on the communities he served.

But in a packed St Wilfrid's Church in Standish, near Wigan, Bolton residents joined the officer's workmates to pay an emotional tribute to the community police sergeant who served 23 years on the force.

Uniformed officers from Bolton and Wigan divisions joined detectives and training officers lining the route as the hearse carrying Sgt Bradford's coffin -- draped in a GMP flag -- arrived at the church at 1.15pm.

Pall bearers carried the coffin through a guard of honour and hundreds of officers then joined family members inside the church.

The mourners heard touching tributes to the dead officer from two of his friends, including PC Mick Trickett, who served under him in Middle Hulton. He told the congregation: "Mick had many friends both inside and outside the police service. I was proud to have been one of them.

"The number of people who have contacted us, ordinary members of the public, to e-mail us or send letters about Mick has been unbelievable. It has provided a great comfort to his family."

Mick's widow Joanne was comforted by his two daughters Nikola, 24, and Erika, 21, throughout the service.

His family had requested no flowers, asking that donations be sent to Wally's youth club in Middle Hulton which the officer had supported.

But one poignant floral tribute, spelling out 'Mr B', stated: "Our hearts are broken now you have gone. Rest in peace eternally until in time we will be together again in a better place. You will constantly be in our thoughts we will love you always."

And inside mourners were given the opportunity to sign books of condolence, with one message simply stating: "My friend you were one of the A team. You will be much missed."

Before the service Bolton's top police officer, Chief Supt Mel Pelham, added his own personal tribute to the officer who had helped secure £2.6 million to revamp his beat area, as well as taking local children on white water rafting expeditions.