EastEnders stars join 1,000 mourners at funeral of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella

Stars of EastEnders from past and present joined the brother of one of their own as they joined the friends of Ben Kinsella at his funeral.

Dozens of the 16-year-old's friends wore fancy dress, colourful wigs and outsized glasses in honour of his memory for the ceremony.

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

Miss Kinsella, who played Kelly Taylor in the TV soap, pleaded for others to learn from his death and lay down their weapons.

Some of Ben's friends also turned up at St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, in Islington, North London, in T-shirts bearing anti-knife crime slogans.

Ben's close friend, Brooke Dunford, 16, was among the first to arrive at the church, which is not far from where the teenager was murdered.

She said: 'He was a funny bright boy. He wouldn't have wanted everyone to wear black.'

She laid flowers outside the entrance of the austere red-brick church, which read: 'The saddest day of my life, Ben, when I lost you.

In mourning: Former EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella at her brother's funeral

Last journey: The teenager's purple coffin is carried from the church

'I will hold you in my heart forever, I love you, you hottie.'

Hundreds of people lined the church entrance as Ben's purple coffin was carried inside.

Several younger mourners broke down in tears.

A number of stars from the world of entertainment and politics attended the service.

Former EastEnders' stars Michelle Ryan, Gillian Taylforth and James Alexandrou were joined by actress Linda Robson and Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn for the service.

Eight funeral cars bedecked with flowers lined the road outside the church. Some of the tributes included a giant pair of floral red shades, the words Son, Great Nephew, and a large letter X.

Grief: Fellow onetime stars of EastEnders James Alexandrou and Gillian Taylforth

Police said they estimated more than 1,000 people were inside the church for the service led by Father Jim Kennedy.

Ben's coffin was carried into the church by members of his family to the song Ben by Michael Jackson.

One floral tribute to the teenager from a close friend read: "I love you, you were a beautiful star and now you will shine even brighter. I miss you so much. I love you even more." It was signed B.

Devastated: Ben's parents, George and Deborah

His sister Brooke, wearing a yellow dress, mum Debbie, dad George and sisters Jade and Georgia were all at the service.

One of Ben's favourite songs 'The Girls' by Calvin Harris was played at the end of the service.

The coffin was then brought out of the church amidst sustained applause.

Michelle Ryan and Joe Swash were also at the service

During the mass a letter written by Ben's mother was read out by his sister.

The father of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, Richard, also attended the service.

Damilola was stabbed to death with broken glass in November 2000 in Peckham, south east London.

A sister's tribute: Brooke Kinsella's message to her brother

The family then left the service for a private ceremony at the nearby St Pancras and Islington Cemetery.

The dead teenager wrote about his happiness and hopes for a bright future in a poem shortly before his murder.

The verse, read out at his funeral, began with the question: "So what comes next for me? God knows. I don't."

Friends of stab victim Ben Kinsella in bright wigs at his funeral in North London

Petals for peace: Carrying a single white rose, mourners make their way into church

It went on: 'This is my home now and I've never felt better.

'I'm not scared any more. There's no weight on my shoulders, no struggle.

'Let's just see what a future here brings. But at the moment, this is living. Not death.'

Ben was stabbed several times in Islington, after a fight in a bar spilled out on to the streets on June 29.

His friend Louis Robson, 16, the son of Birds Of A Feather actress Linda Robson, was with him as he died.

In the following days, up to 400 protesters marched along Upper Street in Islington to the scene of the killing to demand an end to knife crime.

Sombre: Damilola Taylor's father Richard and family friend Linda Robson

Miss Kinsella, 24, said: 'Now truly is the time to stand up and put an end to this.

'Please, please let us learn from Ben and every other child that has been stolen from us.'

But last night, the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Freddy Moody in London brought the grim toll of teenagers killed violently in the capital this year to 21.

Arsenal fan Ben was a popular student at Holloway School in north London.

He appeared in an episode of ITV police drama The Bill in 2004 and took regular after-school drama classes at the Young Actors Theatre in north London for more than a year.

He took GCSE exams before his death and was expected to have done well. The results are released next month.

Ben's family set up a fund and website in his memory to raise awareness of the effects of gun and knife crime.

Three teenagers have been charged with Ben's murder.

Juress Kika, 18, Michael Alleyne, 18, and Jade Braithwaite, 19, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court and have been remanded in custody to October 13.

Last respects: The funeral cortege leaves the north London church