UNDREDS of mourners gathered to say farewell to a popular banger racer who died in a scrapyard accident in Southampton.

The funeral of Barry Collins held at St Edmund's Church in The Avenue was followed by a procession of up to 120 cars to Holybrook Cemetery yesterday.

Mr Collins, 24, a father, died at Huntley & Sons scrapyard in Ashley Crescent, off Portsmouth Road, Sholing, on Thursday, August 2.

His partner of four years, Lucy Smith, paid tribute to him and said his family did not know why he went to the yard that day but they thought he may have been looking at the engine of a van that was about to be destroyed.

Ms Smith described Mr Collins as a fun loving dad.

"He was brilliant in many ways," she said.

"He brought my little boy Thomas up from the age of 18 months and thought the world of him. We also had a son together, Alfie, who he loved," she added.

Police issued a warning to drivers in the city ahead of the funeral yesterday as up to 300 vehicles were expected to join the funeral procession.

A spokeswoman for Southampton police said that traffic in the area was disrupted for a short while as the increase in vehicles had a knock-on effect at roadworks which are currently being done at Charlotte Place.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the accident.

Police and paramedics raced to the scene and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance service was also called but Mr Collins was pronounced dead at the scene.

He died from fatal injuries to his head and shoulder.