MORE than 400 mourners used a poignant song from pop star George Michael to say farewell to a former model who was one of his biggest fans.

Friends, family and colleagues attended St Anne's Church, Edgeside, for a service dedicated to the life of Adam Maden.

Adam, a former pupil at Fearns High School, Bacup, worked as a bouncer in Accrington and Rawtenstall and was well known throughout East Lancashire for his martial arts skills.

The 32-year-old, of High Town, Whitewell Bottom, was discovered in his bed on May 30 by a friend after he had not been seen for two days.

The hymn, The Lord is My Shepherd was played before ending the funeral with George Michael's Different Corner.

The song, which reached number 1 in 1986, includes the lines:

"I would promise you all of my life,

But to lose you would cut like a knife.

So I don't dare - no I don't dare!

'Cause I've never come close in all of these years.

You are the only one to stop my tears."

His mum Jean said: "To see grown men, and big strong bouncers cry like they did was very touching. When Adam went out he used to make himself look like George Michael and loved his music.

"I remember sitting on the bed with him listening to the song 'Different Corner' and thinking how beautiful it was.

"Adam has met so many wonderful people and done so many things in his life and that we are thankful for.

"The fact that so many people attended the funeral is a reflection on Adam and how much he was loved and adored by everybody.

"The cards and flowers are still flooding in even now. His life will be remembered by a lot of people."

Jean, 60, husband Ken, 65, his brothers, Mark, Glen, Graham, Anthony, Grant, Trevor and his sister Tina were all at the funeral to celebrate his life.

Mourners stood outside in silence as Adam's coffin was brought into church before the emotional service was conducted by the Rev Rosemary Bowers.

Rev Bowers said: "Adam was a much loved person which was obvious simply by the amount of people who were at the funeral. I have never seen so many people packed into the church.

"People were also stood outside because we couldn't physically fit any more people into the church." During the service Rev Bowers paid tribute to Adam's life. She said: "Adam was only 32 when he died, but he seemed to have packed a lot of life into the time he had with us.

"He was a people person, a role model to youngsters. He was a charismatic character, who people were drawn to.

"With his good looks and cheeky smile, he had earlier had success as a male model, until it meant travelling abroad. He had only recently left home to live in High Town, where they soon discovered he was a good neighbour with a heart of gold. Adam loved people and people loved him.

Representatives from Adam's employers Acorn Stone Merchants based in Nelson were at the funeral. The company has donated a headstone in Adam's memory.

An initial police investigation found there to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding Adam's death. An inquest has been opened and adjourned while the coroner awaits toxicology reports to identify a cause of death.