Hundreds attend funeral of drowned fisherman

Hundreds of mourners today attended the funeral of a fisherman killed when a trawler disappeared in rough seas.

The family of Edward Gardner thanked local people for their support at the service.

Mr Gardner was the only one of four crew members recovered when the Meridian was lost in the North Sea last week, about 160 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.

The Rev David Laing conducted a funeral service in front of about 500 mourners at Cellardyke Parish Church in Fife today.

A message of appreciation from Mr Gardner's widow Eleanor was included in the order of service.

"Eleanor and the family thank you for your attendance and your support at this sad time," it read.

The Lord is My Shepherd was among the hymns sung by mourners who later attended a reception at a local hotel.

Despite an extensive search the three other crewmen remain lost at sea.

They have been named as skipper Martin Gardner, no relation, 49, Ian Donald, 55, both from Anstruther, Fife, and Sidney Low, 52, from Aberdeen.

The men had been carrying out observation work for an oil firm in Norwegian waters.

Mr Gardner is also survived by his mother Ethel, two sons and a daughter.