A COMMUNITY came to a standstill as final respects were paid to a Ramsbottom GP who had served them for nearly 20 years before succumbing to coronavirus.

Hundreds lined the streets of Holcombe Brook as a funeral cortege wound its way to the Garden City medical practice, where Dr Saad Al-Dubaissi worked.

Centre staff placed roses and sweet Williams on his coffin after the his hearse pulled off Longsight Road. Floral tributes also surrounded an oak tree nearby.

Dr Jeff Schryer, chairman of Bury Clinical Commissioning Group and a number of senior medics were also in attendance, as a cortege stopped off there en-route to his funeral in Chorlton.

Earlier the cortege had also passed the Moorgate Primary Care Centre, in Bury town centre, where friends and colleagues paid similar tributes.

The Iraqi-born GP, who trained in Baghdad, leaves his wife Monah and daughters Zainab and Halah, also both doctors.

Residents observed social-distancing restrictions as the cortege, flanked by cars containing Dr Al-Dubaissi's immediate family, and emergency vehicles from the out-of-hours GP service where he had also worked, passed by.

Earlier Dr Schryer said: "Dr. Al-Dubbaisi was a much-loved, compassionate and experienced GP."

His daughter Zainab added: "Dr Saad Al-Dubbaisi was the most loving and kind husband and father, he will forever be in our hearts."