HUNDREDS of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of a teenager who loved his job in plant hire so much that his body will be carried to church in a low-loader truck.

Daylin Brown, 16, died when the Land Rover he was driving clipped a hedge and overturned on February 5.

His funeral has been delayed because of an investigation looking into whether his employers, K&J Plant Hire, were right to believe he was allowed to drive the vehicle because he held a tractor licence. Owner Keith Curtis insists he has done nothing wrong.

Daylin's funeral will go ahead on Friday in his home town of Torrington, North Devon.

More than 200 friends and relatives will walk behind the truck, on loan from Mr Curtis, during a procession from the home of his mother to St Michael's Church.

The service will be relayed outside the building from 11am on Friday, as the number of people attending is expected to exceed the 500 capacity.

Close family and friends will go on to a private service at the crematorium.

Daylin's grandfather, Dave Kelly, said it would be "no ordinary" funeral, with his grandson's white coffin adorned in the colours of Leeds United, the football team he passionately supported.

Mr Kelly, 68, added: "The response we have had indicates that the church is going to be absolutely packed. We have 200 people involved in the procession and we're asking others to go straight to the church, because otherwise it will get too big."