Grieving Prodigy fans turn out in force for Keith Flint’s funeral

Hundreds of fans descended on the streets of an Essex town today for the funeral of the Prodigy’s Keith Flint.

The mourners arrived on the winding roads of Braintree to pay their respects to the charismatic frontman who died on March 4, with local schools closing for a ‘raise the roof’ celebration of the 49-year old’s life from 3pm.

The 1.5-mile procession will finish at St Mary’s Church in Bocking where the service will take place in private. Speakers will relay the service to the fans stood outside in the streets of the town where the Prodigy was formed.

A crowd had already formed by lunchtime outside the historic building, with The Retreat pub opening its doors to mourners. Men wearing Hawaiian shirts mixed with ravers wearing boiler suits in the sunny street.

The band’s hits filled the air with flags stretching up into the sky. Fans sat on the green outside the 15th century church with well-wishers travelling from as far afield as Prague and Holland.

Pictured; Well-wishers hug in the street as the funeral for the Prodigy frontman gets underway

Left: Mayumi Kai – the estranged wife of Keith Flint – arrives for his funeral in Essex where fans lined the street in tribute, right: Well-wishers hug in the street as the funeral for the Prodigy frontman gets underway

Mourners gather this afternoon for the funeral of Prodigy frontman Keith Flint at St Mary's Church in Bocking, Essex

Mourners gather this afternoon for the funeral of Prodigy frontman Keith Flint at St Mary’s Church in Bocking, Essex

The body of Kieth Flint - who found fame as a singer in the Prodigy after starting out as a dancer for their raves - is carried by hearse into St Mary's Church in Bocking Essex, where fans lined the streets to pay tribute to the front man before the ceremony this afternoon

The body of Kieth Flint – who found fame as a singer in the Prodigy after starting out as a dancer for their raves – is carried by hearse into St Mary’s Church in Bocking Essex, where fans lined the streets to pay tribute to the front man before the ceremony this afternoon

Pictured: Two fans share a tender moment as the funeral for Keith Flint gets underway in Essex to celebrate the life of the Prodigy frontman

Pictured: Two fans share a tender moment as the funeral for Keith Flint gets underway in Essex to celebrate the life of the Prodigy frontman

Speakers will relay the service to the fans stood outside in the streets of the town where the Prodigy was formed

Speakers will relay the service to the fans stood outside in the streets of the town where the Prodigy was formed

A crowd had already formed by lunchtime outside the church,

A mourner prepares for Flint's funeral today

A crowd had already formed by lunchtime outside the church, with The Retreat pub opening its doors to mourners

Local schools closed for a 'raise the roof' celebration of the 49-year old's music star's life from 3pm today in Essex

Local schools closed for a ‘raise the roof’ celebration of the 49-year old’s music star’s life from 3pm today in Essex

Celebrities across the music and entertainment industry paid tribute to The Prodigy's Keith Flint, after news broke that the star had been found dead, aged 49

The vocalist was found hanged at his home in Essex on March 4

Celebrities across the music and entertainment industry paid tribute to Flint after news broke of his death aged just 49

Marie Lelicova, 25, came from the Czech Republic to the service and was clad in a flag. The photography student said: ‘I never met Keith but by being here at least I get the chance to tell him I love him.

‘It is funny because when I first saw the video for Breath and I was scared of Keith and my mother said don’t be worried he is just a nice clown. As I grew older I just started listening to them and loved their music.’

Araks Nazarian, 36, flew out from Sydney for the service. The dedicated fan and chef said: ‘He was just one of the best people I knew, he would always appreciate people like me who would travel. ‘

Pictured: A well-wisher looks on as the coffin carrying Keith Flint's body arrives for his funeral in Essex

Pictured: A fan pays tribute to Flint's Firestarter costume that the singer donned in the iconic music video

Left: A well-wisher looks on as the coffin carrying Keith Flint’s body arrives for his funeral in Essex as, right, a fan pays tribute to the singer with a similar costume to the one worn in the iconic Firestarter music video, which earned record complaints on the BBC 

‘I saw him in Australia a month ago, he was fantastic, he was fine, he was happy. He saw me and said I hadn’t changed and I must be forever youthful and then to do this.’

For others the service was a much more personal affair. Louisa Di Marco, 44, used to dance with Flint before the Prodigy struck it big. She said: ‘I used to dance with them professionally in the 1990s.

‘I knew him and I’m going to miss him, he was just one of the nicest I have ever met, he was lovely. I will miss having a coffee with him. When I dropped out of the scene to have a baby he was the only one to keep in touch.’ 

Pictured: Fans join friends of Keith at the church as Flint's body arrives and his life is celebrated on the streets of Essex

Pictured: A well-wisher mimics Keith's anarchic aesthetic as he watches outside the chuch

Speaking ahead of the service, Reverend Rod Reid said St Mary’s Church had been working closely with Flint’s family

The 1.5-mile procession will finish at St Mary's Church in Bocking

The funeral service will take place in private

The 1.5-mile procession will finish at St Mary’s Church in Bocking where the service will take place in private

The mourners arrived on the winding roads of Braintree to pay their respects to the Prodigy frontman who died this month

The mourners arrived on the winding roads of Braintree to pay their respects to the Prodigy frontman who died this month

Fans sat on the green outside the 15th century church

Well-wishers travelled from as far afield as Prague and Holland

Fans sat on the green outside the 15th century church with well-wishers travelling from as far afield as Prague and Holland

Hundreds of fans descended on the streets of the Essex town today for the funeral of the Prodigy frontman

Hundreds of fans descended on the streets of the Essex town today for the funeral of the Prodigy frontman

The band's hits filled the air with flags stretching up into the sky ahead of the funeral service

A woman becomes emotional ahead of the funeral today

The band’s hits filled the air with flags stretching up into the sky ahead of the funeral service

Flowers from thousands of miles away sat outside the church. A bouquet from the US read: ‘Keef… You and I have never met but the world will forever miss you. I am so sorry for whatever pain you may have experienced in life.

‘I wish you realised and understood ‘more’ how much you meant to all us fans and the world.’

Essex Police warned of delays for drivers. A spokesman said: ‘The roads will not be closed throughout the course of the procession – so, as such, we would ask drivers to avoid the area and find alternate routes where possible.

‘The church service at St Mary’s will be for family and close friends of Mr Flint. Fans and members of the public are asked to respect the privacy of Mr Flint’s loved ones during this difficult time.’

Speaking ahead of the service, Reverend Rod Reid said St Mary’s Church had been working closely with the family ‘to get everything right for the day.’

He said: ‘We are aware that many others will want to feel part of the day too, so the church service will be relayed across the church ground. We all want it to be a fitting tribute and a chance to give thanks for Keith.

An undertaker holds bouquets ahead of the funeral and procession to honour Flint in Essex today

An undertaker holds bouquets ahead of the funeral and procession to honour Flint in Essex today

Flowers from thousands of miles away sat outside the church in Bocking today, with one bouquet sent from the US

A man becomes emotional before Flint's funeral service today

Flowers from thousands of miles away sat outside the church in Bocking today, with one bouquet sent from the US

Essex Police said the church service at St Mary's in Bocking would be for family and close friends of Flint only

Essex Police said the church service at St Mary’s in Bocking would be for family and close friends of Flint only

Essex Police said the roads would not be closed throughout the course of the procession, and asked drivers to avoid the area

Flowers for Flint in Essex today

Essex Police said the roads would not be closed throughout the course of the procession, and asked drivers to avoid the area

Flowers are brought to the church today ahead of the funeral of Prodigy vocalist Flint in Bocking, Essex

Flowers are brought to the church today ahead of the funeral of Prodigy vocalist Flint in Bocking, Essex

Reverend Rod Reid said he wanted the funeral today 'to be a fitting tribute and a chance to give thanks for Keith'

Reverend Rod Reid said he wanted the funeral today ‘to be a fitting tribute and a chance to give thanks for Keith’

‘This has always been part of what the family and band wanted from the start – a recognition of the outpouring of love and support that has come from the fans.’

The service follows a campaign to commemorate Flint with a statue in Braintree. Thousands signed a petition backing the bid to ensure he can look ‘over Braintree and carry on inspiring the people to follow their dreams’.

Council chiefs confirmed they will ‘consider suitable ways’ to remember the singer. Flint was found dead in his nearby £1.5million mansion in North End on March 4 with an inquest hearing he was hound hanging.

The star had recently returned from a tour in Australia and locals said they had seen him jogging in the lead up to his death. Tragically Flint even achieved a personal best for a 5k in the days before his body was found.

In the wake of his death it emerged Flint had split with his wife and his home had gone on the market. 

Floral tributes have poured in from across the world, with fans travelling from as far as Texas to pay their respects

Floral tributes have poured in from across the world, with fans travelling from as far as Texas to pay their respects

A tweet from the band's official Twitter page said: 'Fans are invited to line the procession route, starting at 3pm in Braintree'

A tweet from the band’s official Twitter page said: ‘Fans are invited to line the procession route, starting at 3pm in Braintree’

Scores of well-wishers will line the procession route leading to the church in Bocking, Essex

Scores of well-wishers will line the procession route leading to the church in Bocking, Essex

People have made their way to the procession route clutching cards, photographs and flowers

People have made their way to the procession route clutching cards, photographs and flowers 

Scores of floral tributes have been left outside of St Mary's Church in Bocking ahead of the star's funeral

Scores of floral tributes have been left outside of St Mary’s Church in Bocking ahead of the star’s funeral 

Locals in Essex have paid tribute to The Prodigy frontman - crafting 'Firestarter' memorials - the title of one of his songs - in his memory

Locals in Essex have paid tribute to The Prodigy frontman – crafting ‘Firestarter’ memorials – the title of one of his songs – in his memory 

The star's bandmates have urged fans to line the procession route leading to St Mary's church in Bocking, Essex (pictured) where friends and family are attending a private funeral service

The star’s bandmates have urged fans to line the procession route leading to St Mary’s church in Bocking, Essex (pictured) where friends and family are attending a private funeral service

For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.  

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