The heartbroken mother of a man found dead in France held his funeral without his body after authorities refused to release her son.

Hundreds of friends and family gathered for the service at Barham Crematorium on Monday to remember the life of Warren Ullyett.

The 28-year-old went missing from Herne Bay on November 4 and was found washed up on a beach near Calais on December 12.

His mother, Rani Ullyett, planned his funeral for Monday but the coroner did not release Warren’s body in time as attempts to formally identify him through dental records proved unsuccessful.

Ms Ullyett received the news from her funeral director just two days before the service.

“I knew when I was organising it that January 29 was risky, but I did expect to be told by the coroner’s office if they weren’t going to release his body,” she said.

“They told the funeral directors, but they didn’t tell me. It was just horrible.”

Warren’s body was identified by French authorities, but their counterparts in the UK will not release him until they have also formally identified him.

Ms Ullyett thought about cancelling the funeral on Saturday, but decided it would be too short notice.

It meant about 200 people arrived at the crematorium on Monday to pay their respects.

“Everyone was shocked when they found out his body wasn’t there,” Ms Ullyett said.

“But there were loads of people brought together because they’d known him somewhere, somehow.

“It was quite human and civilised; we did cry, but we also laughed.

“One chap showed me a picture of Warren with his five-year-old autistic son asleep on him and said ‘my son opened up when Warren talked to him’.”

The service contained eulogies from Warren’s mother, aunts and one of his close friends, Jess Julian, as well as a photographic slideshow charting his life.

Walk the Line by Johnny Cash was played as the mourners entered the crematorium and songs by the Animals, Brian Adams and Plan B were played during the service.

“It was a tribute to Warren as a whole: The good, the bad, funny and ugly,” his mother said.

“It wasn’t uplifting because there was a lot of tears, hurt and questions.”

December 12 is the date currently listed as the official date of Warren’s death, but Ms Ullyett did not note this in the order of service because she believes he died before then.

She does not know when her son’s body is likely to be released, but stated that his cremation will be an intimate affair.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to Warren’s death.

Yesterday would have been his 29th birthday.