Stars from the world of entertainment joined more than 1,000 mourners for the funeral of Ben Kinsella.

Ben, the brother of the former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, died after he was stabbed during a night out in North London.

Dozens of the 16-year-old's friends dressed up in colourful wigs, outsized sunglasses and T-shirts bearing anti-knife crime slogans. The unconventional ceremony at St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, in Islington, was so well attended that hundreds were forced to wait outside.

Afterwards, the teenager's purple coffin was brought out from the church to sustained applause. Former EastEnders stars Michelle Ryan, Gillian Taylforth and James Alexandrou were joined by the actress Linda Robson and the Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn for the service. Also in attendance was Richard Taylor, the father of Damilola Taylor, who was 10 when he was stabbed to death in Peckham, southeast London.

After Ben's death Miss Kinsella pleaded for others to learn from her brother's killing and lay down their weapons. Juress Kika, 18, Michael Alleyne, 18, and Jade Braithwaite, 19, have been charged with Ben's murder and remanded in custody until October 13.

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