Hundreds of strangers turned out to give an RAF veteran a fitting send off after he died with no family or friends to attend his funeral.
In a display of patriotic pride, about 600 mourners came together on Wednesday to mark the death of John Thomas Gray, who died last month aged 91.
The huge community response followed a heartfelt plea on social media for people to honour the hero retired serviceman, from Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, issued by funeral director Richard Dalton.
Ex-servicemen and members of the public, some of whom had travelled from as far away as London, braved the pouring rain at South Shields Crematorium.
So many people turned up that there wasn't enough room in the chapel for the congregation, and many were forced to stand outside.
