Mourners honour 'Iron Mike Towell' at boxer's funeral

Fellow boxers have joined friends and family for the funeral of Mike Towell in his home town of Dundee.

The 25-year-old died in hospital the day after he was stretchered off from a ring.

The young father was diagnosed with severe bleeding and swelling to his brain after the bout with Dale Evans in Glasgow on September 29.

His family called for the funeral at St Andrews Cathedral to be a "celebration of his life" and asked mourners not to wear black or red, as Towell did not like the colour.

Many friends and members of his boxing club wore white T-shirts with a picture of Towell celebrating a win on them, with "Iron Mike Towell" written on the back.

Others wore hoodies with messages such as "Dundee's champ", "Team Towell" and "the legend lives on".

Members of the Stirling gym where Towell trained also wore T-shirts with "1314" on them, in reference to the name of the complex.

Former world champion Ricky Hatton raised more than £45,000 to support Towell's family after setting up an online fundraiser, while promoter Eddie Hearn pledged almost £7,500 as a result of ticket sales from Ricky Burns's fight in Glasgow a week after the death.

A statement from the Towell family released before the funeral said: ''We will always mourn losing him but we hope everyone takes time to remember the enjoyment and the smiles he brought into their lives."

Towell had been undefeated going into the bout - which was an eliminator for the British welterweight title - with 11 previous wins and one draw on his professional record.

Around 300 people attended the service, led by Reverend Kevin Golden.