Hundreds flocked to a church this morning to remember a brave teenager who inspired more than £300,000 of fundraising as he battled a brain tumour.

Jayden Powell, 17, was diagnosed during an eye test in February last year and spent much of this year travelling to the Hallwang Clinic in Germany for immunotherapy, which is not available on the NHS.

The treatment was funded thanks to a huge community effort, which saw friends and family donate thousands of pounds to help the teen beat the tumour.

Jayden seemed to be responding well, and plans were being made to celebrate his 18th birthday on August 30, however the family was told shortly after that he had suffered an infection.

The former Aylesford School pupil died, surrounded by his family, just two weeks before the big day.

On Monday morning at St James the Great Church, loved ones turned out in force to remember "an inspirational, kind, caring young man loved and respected by so many".

Mourners recounted memories of his childhood, including how he tricked his brother Liam by adding washing-up liquid to a glass of squash, then filmed him, "laughing uncontrollably", as Liam blew bubbles from his mouth.

His coffin left the church to the sound of 'See You Again' by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, before friends then let off dozens of balloons at Teapot Lane in Aylesford.

Dad Steve, a film set construction worker, said the family plans to set up a charity in Jayden's memory, to help others suffering from a similar illness.

He also said he would continue to pursue the possibility of legal action, after material that may have saved or prolonged his life failed to arrive on time back in April.

It had been hoped tissue from a previous tumour could be used to make a vaccine to destroy the disease but a courier firm’s mix-up meant delivery was delayed.

Mr Powell said after his son's death: “It feels like my heart has been ripped out."

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