Updated: A GRIEF-STRICKEN community was today uniting to say a final farewell to a young jockey whose promising career was ended in tragedy.

The racing fraternity and the people of Norton were gathering for the funeral of Jamie Kyne, one of the victims of the horrific blaze which swept through a block of flats in the town 12 days ago.

Jamie’s heartbroken parents, Gerard and Madaline, wept as the 18-year-old’s coffin was last night taken into St Leonard and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Malton, carried by six fellow jockeys and friends of the Irish-born sportsman.

Some 200 friends, family and colleagues sombrely processed through the cobbled streets and filed into the church for a short vigil service.

A wreath, poignantly shaped in a racing cap, and Jamie’s jockey kit was placed next to his coffin.

The teenager, who had been tipped for greatness in the racing world, was killed alongside another promising young rider – 19-year-old Jan Wilson – when a blaze tore through the flats in Buckrose Court in the early hours of Saturday September 5.

The double tragedy – which is being treated as suspected arson – has left the racing world and the Ryedale community stunned and in mourning for the victims.

At last night’s vigil, Father Tim Bywater, who will also be conducting today’s service, said Jamie Kyne’s family, were “completely bereft” following his death, but said they were finding strength in the support from the racing world in North Yorkshire.

He said: “It was the decision of Jamie’s family to have the funeral in Malton so the racing community and his friends could pay their respects.

“Jamie’s family feel very well supported by the whole world of racing in terms of the funeral and the burial in Ireland.

“They are completely bereft, but they are showing great courage and ensuring they do everything they can to ensure their son is remembered.

“The service is one to celebrate Jamie’s life,” he said. “We will be thanking God for Jamie and remembering all he did.”

He went on to describe the mood in Malton and Norton, both of which have strong links to the world of racing, as being “very subdued” since the tragedy.

He also described staff at the yard of trainer John Quinn, where Jamie was apprenticed, as “very upset”.

Giving the address at the funeral today will be The Press tipster, Tom O’Ryan, who said he would be speaking about the young jockey’s promising career.

Following today’s service, Jamie’s body will be flown to Ireland for a second funeral service and burial in his native Galway.

He is to be laid to rest wearing the colours he wore when riding Ishetoo, trained by Allan Dickman and owned by John Sissons, to the biggest success of his career, in a major sprint handicap at York at the end of May.

* A 37-year-old local man who was arrested by North Yorkshire Police in connection with the blaze remains on police bail.