FAMILY and friends packed into Wimborne Minster to pay tribute to the life of Mark Lambert, who was killed in a road accident at Hinton Martell just days before his 26th birthday.

More than 300 people attended the service, a celebration of Mark's life, and watched as his coffin was carried into the church, topped with flowers.

Mark, 25, of Ashbury Cottages, Hinton Martell, was the much-loved son of Paul and Sue and brother to Ryan and Matt.

He joined Bournemouth Airport, where his father has worked for more than 30 years as an electrician, when he was a 15-year-old schoolboy working part-time in the kitchens.

Mark became a full-time member of staff when he left school, where he was responsible for getting the in-fight meals on to the aircraft.

Every section of the airport staff turned out at the service, from air hostesses to cleaners. Afterwards, colleagues told the Echo that Mark was a fantastic friend, and someone whose life and job touched everybody.

One friend said: "He was a great guy, very laid back. Nothing was too much trouble for him."

Another said: "We really liked him. He will be very sorely missed."

Others said he always had a smile on his face, no matter what time of day it was.

Donations were taken for the intensive care unit at Poole Hospital and the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton Hospital, who cared for Mark.

Mark was one of four people in a black Peugeot 306 travelling between Hinton Martell and the B3078 Cranborne Road near Wimborne when the car left the road, overturned and struck a tree on Biddlecombe Lane at 9pm on October 18.

A police helicopter airlifted Mark to Poole Hospital, and he was transferred to the neurological unit at Southampton but he passed away the following day.

One of the other three passengers in the same car, understood to be Mark's 19-year-old brother, is still in intensive care at Southampton Hospital where he was transferred on October 25.

He was described as being in a "poorly but stable condition".