Trucks join parade as Eddie Stobart laid to rest

EDDIE Stobart's famous and distinctive trucks took part in his funeral yesterday as hundreds of people gathered to bid farewell to the haulage supremo.

People lined the streets as the hearse carrying the coffin of the trucking legend wound its way to the front of Carlisle Cathedral.

Flowers arranged in the word "Dad" were placed in the hearse, which was led by a police motorbike.

Seven men carried the coffin through the narrow doors of the cathedral before six of them placed the coffin on their shoulders inside. Among the bearers was one of Stobart's nephews and a brother-in-law, and two drivers who have been with Eddie Stobart for 30 years.

Stobart, who transformed his father's firm from a small agricultural contractor in Cumbria into a nationwide haulage giant, died of a suspected heart attack on 31 March aged 56.

The father-of-six was living with his wife Mandy in Warwickshire at the time of his death, but he was born, raised and built up the firm from its base in Carlisle.

Three of the iconic green, red and white Eddie Stobart trucks, from the 1970s, 1980s and the present day, were parked near the cathedral.