THERE were a few precious moments when laughter lingered longer than the tears.

Speakers at the funeral of Hampshire teenager Ryan Liddon lifted the cloud of grief hanging over the church by highlighting his ability to entertain others.

They recalled the boy with the 'Harry Potter grin' whose legendary love of ice cream once resulted in a blackout.

They also paid tribute to a popular student who meant so much to everyone who knew him.

Ryan, fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident last month, was laid to rest yesterday after a funeral service at All Saints Church, Fawley, where he was christened in 1990.

His family were happy for the Daily Echo to be present. They said the coverage would illustrate the depth of feeling surrounding their son's death and might encourage anyone with information about the accident to contact police.

The service was attended by hundreds of mourners, including about 150 of his fellow pupils at Hardley School, Holbury.

Ryan was only 15 and his funeral was always going to be a sad occasion, but his parents, Anthony and Angela Liddon, of Larkspur Gardens, Holbury, wanted it to be a celebration of his life.

The four speakers made sure the couple's wish was granted.

Chris Lund, a youth leader at the Bethany Gospel Hall, Holbury, described the outcome of Ryan's determination to defrost a portion of ice cream.

He told how the teenager's ill-fated attempt to use a microwave oven resulted in a loud bang and all the lights going out.

"Ryan still ate his ice cream. He had a smile on his face that went from ear to ear - and you couldn't help but smile back," said Mr Lund.

Bethany youth camps padre Tim Mellish used the word "charismatic" to describe the teenager.

Rebekah Wright, Ryan's head of year at Hardley School, said: "He meant so much to us all and touched the hearts of everyone he knew.

"He was kind, enthusiastic and loved to help, whether it was giving out the books or putting the class to rights during one of our debates. Even when he was cheeky you couldn't get mad at him because she would smile at you with that Harry Potter grin."

Hardley pupil Matthew Goodchild, 15, recalled his friend's famous sense of humour - and the less successful jokes that only Ryan thought were funny.

At the end of the one-hour service, solemn music played as his coffin was carried out of the church to the waiting hearse.

That was the moment when the tears finally fell.

One of the girls standing near the aisle placed her head on a friend's shoulder and shook with grief as he tried to comfort her.

At the back of the church other pupils hugged each and wept uncontrollably.

After the mourners had filed out, scores of blue and silver balloons were released in Church Fields to symbolise Ryan's spirit being set free.

Laughter returned as one of the balloons escaped prematurely while another almost refused to take off and drifted among Ryan's friends and relatives.

After watching the others soar into the sky Mr and Mrs Liddon walked to the hearse for the short journey to Blackfield Cemetery. As they approached the car Ryan's older brother Nicholas, 17, put his arm around his mother's shoulders and gently stroked her hair.