A mother whose teenage son died crossing a railway line has made a plea for other youngsters to stay away from train tracks to prevent another tragedy.

Sam Gardner made the appeal following the death of her 18-year-old son Aaron, who was killed taking a shortcut across railway lines at Bexhill station on July 3.

Aaron was climbing a fence to get on to the track when he fell and hit his head. He died at about 1am after being hit by a train.

More than 250 people packed into Hastings crematorium yesterday to say goodbye to Aaron.

Before the ceremony his mum and stepdad said they could not believe they had lost their son and issued a warning to other youngsters about the railway tracks.

Sam Gardner said: "It is all so pointless and all for the sake of not walking the extra few yards to the safe crossing on the bridge."

She said the loss of her son should be a warning to others and urged youngsters to stop using the shortcut.

She plans to ask the rail authorities to make the fence higher to discourage youngsters climbing on to the track.

She will also ask the nearby Sainsbury's store to move its recycling bins, which youths use as a ladder to climb over the fence.

So many of Aaron's family and friends attended his funeral, mourners were forced to stand in the aisles.

Some even had to huddle in the doorway while it rained outside.

The brown wooden coffin was carried inside while one of Aaron's favourite songs, The Scientist by Coldplay, was played.

A wreath of white carnations placed at the side of the coffin spelt out Aaron's nickname Reza.

Perched on top of the coffin was a blue-and-white striped baseball cap surrounded by red and yellow flowers.

The service began with Lin McKeever, who led the humanist ceremony, reading poems written by Aaron's friends Jenny, Gemma and Nikki. Ms McKeever said: "Aaron had a short life but it was filled to the brim with the things he wanted to do. "

As well as his mother Sam, he lived with stepfather Ian Barclay and his two sisters, Bonnie, 15, and Georgia, eight, in London Road, Bexhill.

He had had a hard time at school because he was dyslexic but had enjoyed sport and was a talented artist, keen fisherman and golfer.

Mourners broke down as they heard that Aaron had been happier recently than in a long time after getting a job as an apprentice for a roofing company.

Reading words from Aaron's mum Sam, Ms McKeever said: "Aaron achieved so much and we were all so proud of him." She said one of the highlights of Aaron's life had been attending the Fatboy Slim Big Beach Boutique concert in Brighton.

Ms McKeever said: "He had the time of his life that night, dancing in all inappropriate places and ending up at a DJs house."

She went on: "He was the one with the big smile. That smile brought masses of young women to the door."

But she said when his mum asked him if he was going to get a serious girlfriend he always replied he wanted to "share his love around".

She said the flowers, cuddly toys and other tributes left at Bexhill station showed how many people would miss him.

After the funeral mourners filed outside to the tune of rapper Dizzie Rascal's song Fix Up, Look Sharp.

The service was due to be followed by a celebration of Aaron's life at the family's local pub, The Pelham.