FAMILY and friends packed into a church to celebrate the life of Alex Wardrope.

More than 200 people crammed into All Saints Church, Bercta Road, New Eltham, for the funeral of the 19-year-old.

Alex, of Sidewood Road, New Eltham, died earlier this month after a two-year battle against leukaemia.

News Shopper had campaigned on his behalf to find a bone marrow donor.

Many of Alex's old school friends from Crown Woods School, Riefield Road, Eltham, came along to pay their respects.

So many people turned up on the day the church had to provide extra chairs.

Alex's mother Joanne, who read an emotional tribute, says the day was a great celebration of her son's life.

She said: "It was a wonderful, lovely day and such a fantastic tribute to Alex.

"He would have been so proud of everyone. It was overwhelming."