EMOTIONAL tributes were this morning paid to hero firefighter James Shears during his funeral service.

His brother, Gary, described him as "a top man, simply the best".

Fighting back tears he said: ''As well as being the best brother, father, son and husband, he was the best at most things.

''He was the best at judo, best at making people laugh, best role model a younger brother could have. ''It's true, Jim, you were simply the best."

In a speech read by group manager Tom Carr, Ed Shears, Mr Shears' dad, said: "He did everything I could not and became a hero. I'm just very proud he was my son."

Hampshire chief fire officer John Bonney spoke of the pride that Mr Shears, who was also known as Jim, took in his job.

He said: "We should be proud of Jim's professionalism but most of all proud of all the memories we have of him."

Richard Sawdon, a colleague at St Mary's fire station in Southampton, tearfully mentioned Mr Shears' two children, Frankie and Ruben.

He said: "Jim will never leave Red Watch. We will always be there to tell Frankie and Ruben what a brave hero their dad was."

The end of the funeral service was marked by the release of multi-coloured ballons.

Earlier, two fire engines led the procession to St George's Church in Oakdale, Poole.

The first carried Mr Shears' coffin and was laden with wreaths, including one from colleagues in the shape of a Budweiser beer bottle.

A second appliance, flanked by firefighters, also bore floral tributes, including one with the message "Rest In Peace Jimbo".

The Oasis track Wonderwall greeted the arrival of the procession at the church and was followed by another of the band's ballads, Stop Crying Your Heart Out.

Other music played during the service included Simply The Best by Tina Turner, Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney Spears and The Wonder Of You by Elvis Presley.

Rev Antony MacRow-Wood opened the funeral service, saying: "We have gathered to honour a brave man, a hero who laid down his life in the course of duty to save others."

Mr Shears' uncle, John McKay, said the family wore bright colours to the funeral to celebrate his life.

"He was a fabulous character and always the one looking after the guys on a night out," he added.

A guard of honour made up of hundreds of firefighters and members of the public lined the streets for the funeral of the second of two firefighters who died battling a blaze in a residential tower block.

Mr Shears, 35, from Poole, died tackling the fire at Shirley Towers in Southampton, on April 6.

Hundreds of colleagues also lined the streets of Southampton on Tuesday for the funeral of Alan Bannon, 38, who died in the same fire.

Mr Shears' coffin was carried to the church by a turntable ladder fire appliance adorned with flowers followed by members of Red Watch from St Mary's Fire Station, Southampton, on foot and a second fire engine.

The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service standard was draped over the coffin with Mr Shears' helmet on top.

Members of the public were asked to wear colourful clothing to help celebrate his life.

They stood in a respectful silence as the coffin was carried by six pallbearers into the church.

Reports have said the firefighters were found unconscious by paramedics on the ninth floor of the block and one died at the scene and one in hospital.

A joint fire service and police investigation is continuing to find out what caused the fire in flat 72 and how the experienced men, from Red Watch based at St Mary's Fire Station, died.

It appears the blaze could have started when a curtain caught fire when it was left over a light bulb, according to local people.

Two other firefighters suffered burns to their hands fighting the fire, which was contained to the one flat.

All the residents were evacuated and nobody was injured.

A memorial service is planned for both firefighters at Winchester Cathedral in July.

SEE TOMORROW'S DAILY ECHO FOR STORY AND PICTURES