Friends and neighbours line the street of 'hero' nurse Gareth Roberts to pay their respects before his funeral

Friends and neighbours have lined the street before the funeral of a nurse who died after contracting coronavirus.

Gareth Roberts, 65, died at Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr Tydfil earlier this month after testing positive for the virus.

He was the second confirmed health worker in Wales with Covid-19 to die.

Today, people stood outside in the drizzle to pay their respects as the funeral procession set off at 9.45am from Mr Roberts' home in Aberdare.

The service was held at 10.30am at the nearby Llwydcoed crematorium, but only a small number of people were present due to the current strict limitations on funeral attendees.

The service itself was streamed online for those unable to be there due to the restrictions.

Instead, people watched through their windows, stood on their doorsteps and clapped in honour of the man they called a "hero".

Mr Roberts was a husband to Linda, a father to Ceri and Dean and a grandfather to Zac.

He had retired in December 2014, but re-joined as a bank nurse in January 2015.

He worked across hospital sites within the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board area, and had recently been working extra shifts at Llandough hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan.

His family said he was utterly dedicated to his profession and was "adored by his patients".

Colleagues praised his "lovely way" with patients and relatives, and said he was kind, fun and extremely popular.

Mr Roberts' funeral service this morning began with Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.

As well as prayers and Bible readings, friend Janette Leonard read outa poem for Mr Roberts, written by his wife Linda.

Welsh hymn Calon Lân was played and the funeral ended with the song Wind Beneath My Wings.

Mr Roberts was among Welsh key workers remembered yesterday as part of a national one minute's silence.