Jay Slater’s mum was seen wiping tears from her eyes as her son’s bright blue coffin was lifted out of a horse-drawn hearse and carried into a Lancashire chapel ahead of the teenager’s funeral service.

Jay, 19, was found dead on the Spanish island of Tenerife four weeks after going missing following a night out with his friends. The teenager spent a night at an AirBnB before attempting to walk back to his accommodation around 20 miles away, but rang friends to say he was lost and had no water before his phone battery eventually died.

After weeks of searching the remote landscape, police found Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, in a ravine close to his last known location. Experts believe he fell on the treacherous terrain and injured himself.

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Today, family and friends of the apprentice bricklayer gathered at Accrington Cemetery Chapel to say their final goodbyes. Wearing blue in memory of Jay, hundreds of mourners turned up to pay their respects at a ‘celebration of life’ service.

Jay’s bright blue coffin, adorned in flowers and with his name printed down the side in a paler blue colour, arrived at the chapel in a black carriage decorated with blue ribbons to the song Forever Young.

As men wearing blue shirts and suits lifted the coffin out of the hearse and carried it into the chapel, Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan, who spent weeks on the Spanish island desperately searching for her missing son, wiped away tears from her eyes.

The emotional mum, wearing a long blue shirt with ruffles down the front, was comforted by loved ones as she watched the coffin being taken into the chapel for the funeral service.

The order of service featured a photo of Jay with the words ‘Always in our hearts’ on the front, and a quote on the back reading: “If there was anyone dancing on the way to the other side it was him.”

Inside the chapel, mourners heard tributes to Jay from his friends and loved ones and were shown childhood photographs and videos of Jay dancing to music, one of his biggest passions. Outside, at least 100 more people gathered in the rain to watch the service on a big screen set up in the cemetery grounds.

One of Jay’s friends recalled how everyone that knew Jay would be “buzzing and smiling” in his company, while another told the congregation: “He used to light up any room no matter where he was.”

Jay’s former football coach said he “always played with a smile on his face” and “you wouldn’t find a teammate with a bad word to say about Jay, just respect and admiration”.

Bringing the emotional service to an end, the celebrant said: “Jay lived life. He was lucky to have such a loving family wrapped around him as well as such loyal friends.”

A drum and bass track played as Jay’s coffin was returned to the hearse and taken to his final resting place. Hundreds of people then followed behind the carriage, some carrying a single rose each.

Ahead of the funeral, Jay’s loved ones were asked to donate to LBT Global, an overseas crisis support charity which helped the family during the search, instead of bringing flowers. In a statement issued through the charity, they said “if anyone would like to bring a single rose to place with Jay, they are more than welcome”.

The family also released a new tribute to Jay, outlining the major events and passions of his life. It read: “A loving son of Debbie and Warren, a cherished brother of Zak and brother-in-law of Jessica, a treasured grandson of Dawn, June and the late Dougie, a much-loved nephew of Glen and Katie, a dear cousin of Maddie and Tillie and a loyal friend to many. Jay will be very sadly missed by all those who knew him.”

The family said: “After Jay left Rhyddings High School he went on to become an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he greatly enjoyed. At the young age of five Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until the age of 17 and also did a few seasons with the Sunday team at St Joesph’s too.

“He also loved spending time chilling out with his friends. Jay’s love of music and dance started at a very young age. He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved to socialise and meet new people.”