A GUARD of honour was formed by 36 uniformed police officers at the funeral of a colleague who died when his car crashed as he responded to an emergency call.

PC Andrew Bramma was killed when the van he was driving hit a tree just outside West Tanfield, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, on Saturday, January 5.

A minute’s silence was held by officers and staff across North Yorkshire Police at 1.45pm today (Tuesday, January 22) to coincide with beginning of PC Bramma’s funeral.

Prayers followed the period of silence at Harrogate Police Station, where PC Bramma was based, and at North Yorkshire Police headquarters at Newby Wiske.

Speaking before the funeral at Pudsey Parish Church, Leeds, today (Tues, Jan 22), Temporary Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “He was a fine young officer who had a long career ahead of him.

“He had all the attributes and skills we need in a young officer.

“He was there to protect the public, there to serve the community, and we were confident his career would go from strength to strength and were just so sorry we’ve lost a colleague in these circumstances.”

Hundreds of colleagues, friends and family attended the funeral, including officers from North Yorkshire Police and Greater Manchester Police, where PC Bramma served for four years before transferring to North Yorkshire four months ago.

The order of service included tributes from PC Bramma’s father and a friend from Greater Manchester Police, and the hymn Jerusalem.

PC Bramma leaves behind his wife Kathryn and their two young sons, Jack, aged three and Sam who is 11 months old.

North Yorkshire Police Federation has set up a fund to help Jack and Sam as they grow up after receiving many offers of support from around the country.