A VILLAGE came to a standstill as villagers said goodbye to hard-working Bob Pratley, who died after a car crash.

A horse drawn hearse led the funeral procession on Saturday down the High Street, Rottingdean, to St Margaret's Church, where not all the mourners could get inside the church.

Mr Pratley ran Apple Cleaning Services from his flat in High Street, Rottingdean, and had contracts cleaning pubs and restaurants in Brighton and Rottingdean.

He often worked 15 hours a day and was on his way to work in central Brighton with his work colleague Alison when his van was in collision with a stolen BMW car early on December 13.

Alison is still recovering in hospital.

Mr Pratley suffered head and internal injuries and put up a brave fight for life at the Royal Sussex County Hospital but died on January 5.

The vicar of Rottingdean, Fr Martin Morgan said: "There was a great deal of respect for him as he was such a hard grafter."

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