A procession of more than 40 Land Rovers and cars marked the final journey for Barry Chessell.

Stunned Islanders watched as the vehicles, many draped in the Union Flag and with their lights on, took part in a convoy from the Bay View pub to Bobbing Crematorium on Friday (Mar10).

Mr Chessell, a father-of-four and grandfather from Coronation Drive, Bay View, lost his fight against cancer on February 22 at the Wisdom Hospice. He was 62.

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VIDEO: Grandad Barry Chessell's final journey

But his friends and family were determined to give him a spectacular send-off. Instead of a hearse, the Land Rover-loving former boss of family firm Evergreen Building Services took his final ride in the back of his son Tony’s immaculate black Defender 110.

His friend David Bourke said: “At one stage the procession took up the whole of the Old Sheppey Way from Cowstead Corner to the Kingsferry Bridge. Barry would have loved that.”

Many of the drivers were from 4x4 groups such as the Troll Island 4x4 Group, Kent 4x4 World and Kent Land Rovers.

Mr Chessell leaves a widow, Linda, and four sons Ian, Tony, Barry and Lee.