A YOUNG father who died following a road smash was taken on a final journey today to the stadium of his beloved Bolton Wanderers.

And Andrew Stuchbury, a life-long Trotters fan, was finally laid to rest wearing a full Bolton Wanderers strip.

Andrew, 33, died last week after suffering fatal head injuries in a road accident on Chorley New Road, Horwich - just yards from his Hartley Street home.

And in an unusual move, a procession of mourners travelled to the Reebok Stadium - Andrew's second home - before the committal at Overdale Crematorium.

His widow, Wendy, explained: "Andrew was always a Bolton Wanderers fan and had a season ticket. We thought it would be fitting to drive around the stadium after the church service. He would have liked that."

The funeral, at St Catherine's Church, Horwich, was packed with mourners paying their last respects for a man universally liked and well-known for his infectious personality and laughter.

His four-year-old son, Connor, was at the funeral alongside grief-stricken widow, Wendy.

Andrew, who worked at garage door manufacturers Chamberlain Doors for 13 years, started watching the Trotters when he was five with his dad, Bill.

Bolton Wanderers paid tribute to the long-serving supporter in a recent match day programme.

Andrew, described as a joker who loved dressing up as Roy "Chubby" Brown and often appeared at matches dressed as his favourite comedian, was also remembered for playing his bugle at matches.

A spokesman from BWFC, quoting from the Queens Park Rangers programme, said: "We are sure that fellow supporters of BWFC who knew Andy will miss his presence at matches. He was just the nicest and most sincere young man you could ever wish to meet and had tremendous enthusiasm and love of life which was infectious to all who came into contact with him."

Bolton Wanderers has sent his family a fully signed strip which Wendy is now saving for her son, Connor.

The cortege left his home at 10.30am for a service at St Catherine's Church followed by the procession to the Reebok.

Wendy said: "The funeral directors put on an extra hearse for the sheer amount of flowers. I was incredibly touched when we got the strip. Everyone has been brilliant. I didn't realise how many people knew Andy."

Flowers now mark the spot where Andrew was fatally injured.

A Bolton man has appeared before Bolton magistrates charged with causing death by dangerous driving.