So many friends of BMW crash victim Frankie Wright wanted to pay their respects at his funeral that it took nine minutes for a non-stop stream of cars, bikes, trucks and lorries to file into the crematorium.

But this was no solemn procession. There were clouds of smoke billowing from scorched tyres as mourners revved engines and performed doughnuts on the road outside, shattering the usual peace and quiet.

HGV cabs joined in as a tribute to the car-mad lorry driver who died after his prized BMW M6 car lost control and left the M2 near the Chatham turn-off.

Even his coffin, which was delivered in the back of a Land Rover, was designed to look like his motor as it was carried by his brothers and friends into the chapel of the Garden of England cemetery at Bobbing, Sittingbourne, on Friday (Mar 4)to the music of Madness singing Driving in My Car.

His favourite quad bike also made an appearance, strapped to a flat-bed lorry.

So many mourners turned up for the service that some were forced to stand at the back of the chapel, which seats 100.

Frankie, a former Sheppey Academy pupil, lived in St Helen's Road, Sheerness. He died on Thursday, February 10, in King's College Hospital London from head injuries, with his family and friends by his bedside, two days after the motorway crash. He was 25.

His parents Steve and June, his brothers Jason and Aaron, his sisters Kimberley and Simone and his grandfather Frank Bailey, 90, were among the mourners.

Michaela Blake, speaking on behalf of his many friends, said: "He had his smoking mates, work mates, school mates, drinking mates, car mates and everything in between. No matter how we all met him, we'll never forget him.

"He was one of the funniest people but he was also one of the most loving and caring with a heart of gold."

She added: "He once said 'If I ever die driving, I'll die smiling'."

Jane Lewis, who took the non-religious service, said: "Frankie was a popular and spontaneous person who loved his family, his job and life. Frankie wanted to live life in the fast lane and he did. Tragically, he paid the ultimate price in his need for speed."

Many of the cars carried RIP Frank number plates and one owner had his bonnet painted as a tribute to his car-mad friend known as Fat Frank before he took the treadmill and had to renamed Skinny Fat Frank.

His family said before the ceremony: "As Frankie was never without his tracksuit and cap, his day will be the same, so feel free to wear your tracksuit or casual wear."

Many turned up wearing specially printed black hoodies with 'In Loving Memory Frankie Thomas Wright, 19/05/96 - 10/02/22, gone but never forgotten' printed on the back.

A Go Fund Me page raised more than £3,300 towards the funeral.

An inquest has been opened and was adjourned to July 25. Police are still appealing for witnesses to the crash. It is thought the car suffered a tyre blow-out.