Stephen's mother says her final farewell: Private funeral after hundreds of mourners turn out to give teenage cancer campaigner a moving thumbs up

The family, friends and those inspired by Stephen Sutton have today said goodbye to the teenage cancer victim, with 10,000 people having joined a 48-hour vigil in his honour.
A service marking the end of two days' thanksgiving was held at Lichfield Cathedral and was attended by his mother, Jane, brother Chris, and his loved-ones, followed by a private funeral.
Also present was comedian Jason Manford, who was among a host of celebrities to praise Stephen's courage in the face of living with terminal disease.
During the public service the Dean of Lichield said he was 'glad and proud to be part of the same human race which had as one of its examples Stephen Sutton'.
Outside, as his coffin emerged from the cathedral, the crowd of 1,200 burst into applause and then a symbolic 19 balloons were released - one for each year of Stephen's life - by his mother and brother.
The coffin was then driven away to the private funeral service as hundreds put their thumbs up - a salute Stephen famously used as he lay in his hospital bed.

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Celebration of his life: A huge number of balloons were released into the sky as a band played, soaring into the sky above Lichfield Cathedral

Last goodbye: Stephen Sutton's mother Jane Sutton and his brother Chris Sutton during a special service marking the end of a two day vigil in his memory at Lichfield Cathedral

10,000 people have paid their respects at Stephen's coffin in the past two days and his family will say a final farewell privately today

Pallbearers carry the white coffin from Lichfield cathedral in Staffordshire, where it has been kept since Wednesday

Stephen Sutton's mother Jane and his brother Chris, release yellow balloons as Stephen's coffin leaves Lichfield Cathedral

Still smiling: Jane and Chris Sutton watch on as Stephen's coffin leaves Lichfield Cathedral as comedian Jason Manford gives them a thumbs up sign

Inspiration: A bright yellow pillow of flowers rests on the coffin as the funeral cortege leaves the cathedral for a private ceremony as hundreds saluted it

Stephen, 19, originally started the fundraising drive on his justgiving.com webpage, but the donations have continued to pour in from people touched by his example since he succumbed to multiple tumours on May 14

Earlier, hundreds gave a thumbs up to the memory of the brave campaigner who helped raise more than £4million in the fight against cancer.
They gathered outside the West Door of Lichfield Cathedral to celebrate the work of the campaigner.
The 19-year-old died on May 14 from multiple tumours and has since been called Britain’s 'favourite son' and praised for 'showing others how to live'.
During the service, the Dean of Lichfield said Stephen's memory had 'energised people' both young and old, among them cancer survivors and sufferers, who had patiently filed through the cathedral since yesterday.
He said the enduring lesson of Stephen, from Burntwood, was 'to live not as a victim but as a free young person', adding that his inspiration was to 'offer an alternative to the bleak, mean view, we often have of life'.
Stephen's former headteacher, Stuart Jones, of Chase Terrace Technology College, said there was 'a collective pride' among students and staff at the fact that the teenager had been a pupil at the school.

He added: 'It is hard to comprehend how he found the courage, determination and energy to achieve what he did in his last few years.'
These achievements, brought together in a bucket list, included urging Mr Jones to join him in a 15,000ft skydive.
'I hated it, as I expected, but am really glad I did it,' he said. 'His spirit makes us want to be bolder and braver.'
Siobhan Dunn, chief executive of the Teenage Cancer Trust, said: 'What really matters is what you do with the time you have.
'The difference Stephen has made has been immeasurable.'
She said the charity would spend the donations 'supporting and developing' the trust's 22 UK units, services, outreach nursing units, and youth support workers.
'Young people should not be defined by their cancer,' she said, adding that the charity would continue to work under Stephen's ethos that 'while he may have cancer, cancer did not have him'.

Funeral: Jane Sutton, mother of Stephen Sutton, arives at Lichfield Cathedral with her son Chris, Stephen's brother, for the funeral today

Funeral: Jane Sutton, mother of Stephen Sutton, arrives with her son, Stephen's brother Chris, at Lichfield Cathedral this afternoon

Support: Stephen's family was cheered and clapped into the cathedral as they prepared to say goodbye to the 19-year-old, who died this month

Family and friend gather during a closing ceremony at the end of a two day vigil in memory of Stephen Sutton at Lichfield Cathedral

Moving: Hundreds had stood outside the church all day today and were among an estimated 10,000 people to see his coffin in the past 48 hours

Bbrightly-dressed percussionists in blue tunic coats and bowler hats played out the hearse in what seemed an apt tribute to Stephen, who was a drummer in the band Nothing Personal

Crowds: Hundreds of people gathered outside the cathedral as Stephen's hearse left the vigil

Cherished: Stephen's famous thumbs up - carried out as he lay in his hospital bed - has been adopted by people all over Britain

She said Stephen's 'positivity' was a driving force which meant his memory 'lives on in what we do'.
Ms Dunn said: 'How fitting it is a young person with cancer proved the catalyst to supporting many more young people with cancer, now and in the future.'
Concluding the service, the Dean said he was 'glad and proud to be part of the same human race which had as one of its examples Stephen Sutton'.
He added: 'It would be usual now, if this was a church service, to say 'rest in peace' but I can't imagine Stephen doing that.
'He'd say 'Live it up', so - one more time - let's give him a thumbs up.'
The gathered mourners, on cue, raised a thumb, before joining in a final round of applause.
After the service a steady tattoo from the Pandemonium Drummers, who performed for the London 2012 Olympic Games, followed.
The brightly-dressed percussionists in blue tunic coats and bowler hats played out the hearse in what seemed an apt tribute to Stephen, who was a drummer in the band Nothing Personal.
Earlier, as the 11th bell chimed at 11am, the crowd's thumbs went up and took part in a minute's applause. As the clapping died away, a lone voice from the crowd cried 'Go Steve', and a huge cheer went up. His funeral started at 3pm.

Emotional: Stephen's family asked people to act with joy and not wear black but for some the occasion today was too much

Poignant: Friends, family and those inspired by Stephen Sutton give a final thumbs up outside Lichfield Cathedral today where the 19-year-old's coffin has been for 48 hours

The 19-year-old succumbed to multiple tumours on May 14 after a determined fight and the Staffordshire church has been hosting a 48-hour vigil for the teenager, whose white coffin was visited yesterday by 7,000 mourners.
The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Revered Adrian Dorber, called it a 'phenomenal' display of human unity, for the man he said 'has become everybody's favourite son around here'.
Sarah Deeley, a care worker from Tamworth in the West Midlands, said she needed to come and say 'thank you' to Stephen for his example.
'He was just such a wonderful person, this is the least I could do,' she said.
Lucy Arnold, 42, a cleaner from Lichfield, who took the day off work to pay her respects said: 'Stephen made me think about life in a different way and he was amazing.
'What he did for the charity is astonishing, he is one of a kind and you can see that from all the people that are here today.
'I am sure his mum and dad must be so proud of him, he will change so many young lives with the amount of money he has raised.
'I know it is his funeral but it really does seem like a happy event, I think that's what he would have wanted.'