More than 170 patrol officers from the Highways Agency attended the funeral of a colleague killed while attending an M25 accident.

John Walmsley (left) was struck by a car as he helped at the scene of a previous accident on the approach to the M26 junction last month.

He was the first Highways Agency officer killed on duty, and died two days before his 60th birthday.

Officers from across the country volunteered to cover the south east of England for colleagues paying their last respects to their popular colleague.

Mr Walmsley was born and lived all his life in Gravesend. He worked from the Highways Agency's Dartford base.

Many who attended the funeral service in Gravesend Methodist Church were visibly upset.

They included members of a 15-strong honour guard who stood to attention as the coffin arrived and later departed.

Gravesend was brought to a standstill as police provided outriders for the cortege, and a fleet of coaches collected the officers.