Hundreds of people are expected to attend the funeral of popular 20-year-old Ian Tang in North Walsham today.

And North Norfolk District Council has suspended car parking charges in the town for the event.

Mr Tang's body was found in Swafield, near North Walsham, at 11.15am on Tuesday, December 12.

Police said a file had been passed to the coroner, but a date has not yet been fixed to open the inquest.

The funeral service will be at St Nicholas Church, North Walsham today at 2.30pm.

The Revd Rachael Dines, the curate, said: 'I believe the turnout is expected to be quite large. We had a book of condolence in the church which has now been passed to the family.

'We were really delighted that people responded to that and hundreds of candles were lit in the church in memory. People stood together and showed that they cared, and that they felt for the family and were thinking of them.'

The family paid tribute to Mr Tang in a death notice printed in the Eastern Daily Press.

Ian Tang's mother Debbie said: 'My son has gone and left us. Things will never be the same. The memories will never fade, and neither will the pain. All my love always.'

Meanwhile, more than £10,896 was raised by friends and supporters to pay for the funeral, after Mr Tang's cousin Reana Zagni set up a JustGiving page.

The City College Norwich student was hoping to begin a veterinary career having studied animal management at Easton and Otley College, as well as previously attending North Walsham High School.

He had gone missing on Sunday, December 10 having left the KA bar in North Walsham at around 2.30am. About 250 local residents helped the police comb the surrounding area.

The funeral service will be followed by private cremation. Family flowers only, but donations, if desired, payable to The Seal and Bird Trust, Ridlington may be given at the service or sent to Murrell Cork Funerals, 57a Mundesley Road, North Walsham, NR28 0DB. The trust is a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release centre.