RINGWOOD will come to a standstill today as residents pay their last respects to the man who was mayor five times.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of Ringwood councillor Danny Cracknell, who died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

His coffin will be driven through the town before the service at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul.

After leaving his home at Fairlie Park, the funeral cortege will cross the A31 at the Poulner flyover before driving along Eastfield Road and past the Hightown Road cemetery, where his parents are buried.

It will then pass the council offices in Christchurch Road before entering High Street and Market Place, arriving at the church just before 1.30pm. A large number of residents are expected to line the streets as the procession makes it way through the parish.

The church can seat 450 people but loudspeakers will relay the service to two gazebos provided for mourners unable to squeeze into the building.

Cllr Cracknell, 70, was first elected to the town council in 1987 and was chairman for three years before becoming the town's first mayor in 2000. He also joined New Forest District Council in 1991.

Away from local government he was a founder member of Ringwood Cheetahs banger racing club, formed for youngsters uninterested in cricket, football and rugby.

Cllr Cracknell also instigated the Ringwood Festival in 1997 and was chairman of the organising committee for ten years. He leaves a widow, Diane, three children and six grandchildren.