A Rochester singer who died of liver cancer just a day after his diagnosis has been laid to rest.

More than 200 friends of Chris Austin, who was 38, gathered at a lively wake at his aunt Sharon Austin’s pub.

Medway musicians including Lupen Crook and Crybaby Special played live and acoustic sets long into the night in a celebration of his life.

The mini-festival last Wednesday at The George in Chartham, near Canterbury, followed a packed funeral service at Barham Crematorium.

Chris’s brother Tom Moore, 35, said: “It was definitely the sort of send-off he would’ve wanted. We had a bonfire and released Chinese lanterns.

“We would like to thank everyone who came, those who couldn’t make it and the people of the village for being so understanding.”

The gifted guitarist, who had just signed to a record label with his band Tape Error, discharged himself from Medway Maritime Hospital after being told he had late-stage cancer.

He had joked to friends that he would never live past 40. No inquest will be held.

A musical tribute page at soundcloud.com/chris-austin-rip has allowed more than 1,000 people to listen to his songs.