HUNDREDS of mourners gathered yesterday to say their final goodbye to young dad Daniele Polito who died in the Shoreham Airshow disaster.

Dressed with a hint of baby blue - the 23-year-old's favourite colour - friends and family celebrated the Worthing man's life at the town's crematorium in Horsham Road.

Mr Polito, who had a three year old son, was one of the 11 who died when the Hawker Hunter crashed into the A27 on August 22.

His coffin, which was adorned with images of Jelly Beans and Haribo Starmix sweets, was carried into the chapel to the sound of Brahm’s Lullaby.

Father John McCormack then lead the service which featured readings from family members.

His sister, Marina, read self-penned poem Wrong Place Wrong Time, Right Place Right Time, in which she told of growing up with her brother and her struggles in coming to terms with his passing.

His brother then addressed those gathered and told of a "cheeky, loyal and loving" friend.

He said: “He loved to entertain people. From a very early age he loved to hang out with my friends, with the big kids. He would dress up, told jokes he thought were funny – that only he thought were funny – and would make ridiculous and stupid faces. After one of our big nights out he would wake us up to this medley of Britney Spears, with the moves. It was amazing and irritating in equal measure."

He said that Daniele's greatest love was for friends and family.

He added: "What Daniele inarguably loved most in his life were his family and friends. I’m sure he believed his fierce loyalty to his loved ones came from his Italian ancestry, something of which he was extremely proud.

“Impulsive, cheeky, foolish, loyal and loving. A wholly flawed lovely kid. I won’t pretend there have been many positives to come out of the last three weeks but there has been one – I’ve had a chance to get to know my brother all over again, and it’s been a delight.”

He told the funeral how he was in Tokyo when the details of the tragedy filtered through.

Photographs of Daniele from throughout his life were shown on a screen in the chapel before his family gathered round his coffin.

R Kelly’s I Believe I Can Fly then played over the chapel's speakers as the mourners made their way to The Denton Lounge in Marine Parade.

PRIEST’S TOUCHING TRIBUTE: ‘REMEMBER THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER’

FATHER John McCormack described Daniele Polito as an “amazing man”.

Friends and family have spoken of how he “touched everyone he met” and how he had a habit of melting every girl’s heart - even as a toddler.

True to his Italian roots, he also had a passion for cooking and was a big family man.

He had just started his own family – he had a three-year-old-son – and had the rest of his life to look forward to.

He tried a number of trades over the years and was extremely active – even taking up the challenge of running a marathon.

Father McCormack told those gathered: “I want you to remember Daniele in every moment.

“Daniele will only be forgotten, will only truly die, when you stop remembering.

“Remember the gift of laughter, the gleam in his eye.

“So long as we live, he too shall live.”