HUNRDEDS of villagers turned out to pay tribute to the sailor who died following a vicious race attack in Hampshire.

Police launched a murder inquiry after Gregory Fernandes, left, was set upon by a gang of about 20 yobs as he walked through Fawley.

Exactly a week after the attack more than 300 villagers attended a memorial service in All Saints Church in Fawley before holding a candlelit vigil at the spot where the 32-year-old from Goa, in India, died.

A total of ten teenagers have been arrested following the incident and have all been bailed by police pending further inquiries.

The 32-year-old sailor from the Indian state of Goa collapsed and died following a race-hate gang attack in the Hampshire village on October 20.

Exactly one week after the assault when up to 20 youths attacked Mr Fernandes, Fawley residents pulled together to pay their respects to him and his family.

Some 300 villagers among them New Forest East MP Julian Lewis attended a special service in a packed All Saints Church before walking silently to The Square, where the attack on devout Christian Mr Fernandes took place. At The Square, they held a two-minute silence before lighting candles.

The Rev Barry James, who led the church service on Saturday, said: "The community is in shock. People are dismayed and ashamed of what happened here, in what is normally a quiet Hampshire village.

"We wanted to acknowledge what happened and express our feelings of solidarity, as well as to show Gregory's family that we are remembering him and that we care."

A letter by Father Diogo Fernandes, Mr Fernandes' uncle and a priest in America, was read. He said: "Let us not make Gregory just another statistic in the growing cancer that is race hatred. I wish Gregory had brought us together by another way, rather than by his death. As I write these words, my eyes are full of tears."

Village in shock Doug Eaglen, who has lived in Fawley for ten years, was at the service. He said: "People here in Fawley are absolutely shocked at what happened. This is a way of expressing that - it is a gathering together of the community to show how everybody feels.

"The Square was dedicated as a Christian place at the Millennium, and it is where this assault took place. The lighting of candles here is like a rededication ceremony.

"There is not a great deal of trouble here normally. We have always been quite a quiet village and we want to get back to that."

At least two businesses in Fawley are also running collections in memory of Mr Fernandes.

Police have confirmed that the attack is being treated as a racially-aggravated assault. Yesterday they announced that seven youths arrested in connection with Mr Fernandes's death have been released on bail, pending further inquiries.

The youths, all aged between 13 and 17 years, come from the Fawley and Blackfield areas. They were detained on Friday on suspicion of murder, grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.

A total of ten teenagers have been arrested since Mr Fernandes was attacked on October 20.

Three people detained shortly after the incident, including a 14-year-old boy, were subsequently released on bail until January, pending further inquiries.