HUNDREDS gathered for the funeral of popular father Shaun Michael Maslin, who was killed in a work accident a fortnight ago.

Two JCBs made an arch over mourners as they left St Bartholomew’s Church, Corsham, in recognition of the 44-year-old’s dedication to his firm SM Plant Hire.

His parents Carol and Philip, from Corsham, and fiancee Lindsey Arthur and their four-year-old daughter Eloise, from Kington Langley, led the mourners on Wednesday.

During the service tributes were paid to Mr Maslin by a longstanding friend, a former contractual manager and one of his brothers, remembering him as a cheeky, charming, charismatic chap, who was a perfectionist with his work.

Mr Maslin was also a keen karting enthusiast, taking his partner’s teenage son Nick to numerous competitions.

The former Sheldon School pupil raced a lot himself in his early 20s and was involved in school boy motocross during his teenage years.

Mr Maslin, who leaves two brothers, Ian and Keith, was well known throughout the karting and building community.

Donations were collected for Wiltshire Air Ambulance after the service instead of flowers, in recognition of the lifesaving work its crews have done for people in the karting community.

His family understand he died after suffering massive internal injuries when part of a gas pipe he was working on exploded in Staines, Middlesex, on October 21.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive has been launched.