12 miles of tears for champ

STARS SALUTE HERO RICKY

- JERRY LAWTON

BRITAIN'S hardest fighters, wildest rockers, finest footballers and thousands of fans united in a 12-mile river of tears at Ricky Hatton's funeral.

The ring king's status as The People's Champion was immortalised in a tribute that touched all walks of life. Mourners ranged from Liam Gallagher, Wayne Rooney and Tyson Fury to the woman who used to fry Ricky's fish and chips.

Around 50,000 lined the streets as the Hitman made his final journey from his local boozer, The Cheshire Cheese in Hyde, to a grand cathedral funeral via his beloved Man City's Etihad Stadium.