IT was a sad, final farewell to a "gentle" man who touched the hearts of a community -- including TV funny man and former altar boy Peter Kay.

The celebrity was among more than 1,000 mourners who gathered at St Ethelbert's Church, Wigan Road, Bolton, to say a poignant goodbye to Father Michael Flatley.

One little girl in the congregation had more reasons than most for saying a special thank-you to the 57-year-old priest.

She was abandoned on Father Flatley's doorstep as a baby in 1994 and was taken under his wing. Despite looking after the needs of his parish, Father Flatley continued to keep in touch with the little girl, who attended the funeral yesterday with her adoptive parents.

Children from nearby St Ethelbert's Primary, St Bernard's and Mount St Joseph's were also at the mass alongside 78 priests from throughout the diocese.

The Bishop of Salford, the Rt Rev Terence Brain, conducted a requiem mass as crowds braved icy temperatures standing outside the packed Roman Catholic church.

Rev Brain said: "He was a gentle, humble priest. The fact that an MP, the Mayor and Mayoress and people from all walks of the community have come to the funeral, shows just how he touched the lives of everyone."

The mourners later lined the street forming a guard of honour as the hearse, lined with flowers from schoolchildren, drove slowly past.

One message, on a floral tribute from St Ethelbert's Primary, read: "Dear Jesus, we hope Fr Michael makes you as happy as he made us. All our love, St Ethelbert's." Another message simply read: "Always at the heart of the school."

Fr Flatley, who died after collapsing from a sudden heart attack at his home on December 19, was taken to his final resting place in Denton, Manchester.

A wake was held at nearby St Ethelbert's Primary School.

Peter Kay told the BEN: "Fr Flatley married me and Susie a few months ago. His death was very sad. It's incredible to see so many people at the funeral. He had great understanding and helped a lot of people.

"I was an altar boy here since I was five years old, and I was a pupil at St Ethelbert's.

"I knew him well. It is very sad."

Born in Denton, Father Flatley was educated at Harrytown Convent in Romiley and Mount Saint Mary's College, Derbyshire.

He began his studies for the Diocese of Salford in 1963 at Saint Joseph's College, Upholland, in 1963.

Fr Flatley was ordained priest at St Mary's, Denton, in 1969 by the Rt Rev Thomas Holland, Bishop of Salford, and served at St John Bosco in Blackley for 10 years.

He was curate at St Ethelbert's for six years from 1979 before he took over as parish priest.

Director of Howarth's Funeral Service, John Howarth, who was also married by Fr Flatley, said: "It is very unusual to see a funeral of this size and it's not a common sight to see so many priests together.

"It is also very unusual for a priest to die while still in charge of a parish. People who were former altar boys and parishioners have travelled from all over to pay their respects."