SCORES of uniformed police officers stood with their heads bowed in silent tribute as they formed a farewell guard on honour for PC Nick Dumphreys.

The popular police officer's colleagues - of all ranks - were among hundreds of people at his Carlisle Crematorium funeral service today.

All three emergency services were represented.

Draped over the coffin that carried PC Dumphreys was the flag of his native South Africa, while visible through the hearse's rear window was a wreath of white flowers, fashioned into the number 1724 - the officer's collar number during his 17-year career.

A married father-of-two, 47-year-old PC Dumphreys died on January 26 when his car crashed on the M6 near Carlisle.

The roads policing officer was hugely popular.

Escorting the hearse as it arrived at the Dalston Road cemetery were seven police motorcycle outriders.

The eulogies included one from Chief Inspector Richard Quinn, who worked with PC Dumphreys during the early part of his career in Brampton.

He said: "If I could describe him in three words, they'd be funny, caring and professional."

PC Dumphreys was always there for his family, his colleagues, as well as for the public he served so well, said Inspector Quinn.

PC Dumphreys was a big man, a big personality, with an even bigger heart, he said.

The service closed with an emotion statement from the adoring wife of PC Dumphreys' Kat, who said: "Life was one big adventure with you... Thank you for choosing me: you made me the happiest girl alive."

Cumbria Police's Chief Constable Michelle Skeer described PC Dumphreys as a "consummate professional."

In a brief statement after the service, she thanked everybody for the massive turnout, adding: "Thank you from me on what is a really sad and tragic day for the Constabulary. It was an incredibly moving service."

Originally from South Africa, PC Dumphreys joined Cumbria police in 2003, working in Penrith, and Brampton, and most recently out of Durranhill Police HQ.

Following his death, tributes flooded in from across the country, and beyond.

In one tribute, Cumbria Police Federation chairman Paul Williams wrote: “I can say I am proud to be able to say I knew Nick and spent time with him on various courses and deployments. Having first met him in 2009 on a [safety] instructors course his sense of humour shone through and he made the course a very happy memory. Not least his cheeky ways played a role in me and my now wife developing a relationship.

“Nick loved his job and more so his family.

"He was the kind of officer and person you would happily spend your whole career working alongside."