The cortege ahead of the funeral of Highways Agency traffic officer, John Walmsley

Gravesend town centre came to a standstill today at the funeral of the first Highways Agency officer ever to be killed on duty.

John Walmsley, (left) 59, died after being struck by a car while attending an M25 accident last month.

More than 170 patrol officers attended his funeral today at Gravesend Methodist Church.

Mr Walmsley, of Doria Drive, Gravesend, was on foot when he was hit by a car as emergency services tackled an earlier crash on the approach to the M26 junction on Tuesday, September 25.

He was the first Highways Agency officer killed on duty when he died two days before his 60th birthday.

Officers from across the country volunteered to cover the south east of England for colleagues paying their last respects to their popular colleague.

Mr Walmsley was born and lived all his life in Gravesend. He worked from the Highways Agency's Dartford base.

Many who attended the funeral service were visibly upset.

They included members of a 15-strong honour guard who stood to attention as the coffin arrived and later departed.

Gravesend was brought to a standstill as police provided outriders for the cortege and a fleet of coaches collected the officers.