The local community paid tribute to Keith Allday

The town came to a standstill and crowds lined the streets around St John's Church in Barmouth as the traditional seafarers' hymn 'For those in peril on the sea' rang out.

Father-of-five Mr Allday, 54, drowned while laying mooring in Barmouth harbour on 5 April.

Assistant harbour master and helmsman Alan Massey, 37, who was with Mr Allday at the time is still missing, presumed drowned.

The hearse carrying Mr Allday's body paused outside the town's RNLI station for which Mr Allday volunteered as the coxswain and lifeboat colleagues carried his coffin into the crowded church.

Among the congregation were members of fellow RNLI volunteer Mr Massey's family and local MP Elfyn Llwyd.

Keith Allday had planned to retire next year

The chairman of the local RNLI branch Bob Howarth described Mr Allday as the "friendliest man he had ever met", while some of the harbourmaster's children paid tribute, saying he was, and always would be, a hero to them.

Officials from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department of Transport have started their investigations and have been checking their 15ft dinghy which was found overturned.

Mr Allday's body was found a day after the two friends were reported missing. A search for Mr Massey was called off later the same day.

Two separate inquiries are currently under way into the accident. The two men had being doing routine work for Gwynedd Council in the town's harbour.

The official opening of the town's new £1m RNLI boathouse and headquarters, planned for 20 April, has been postponed following the loss of the two RNLI crew members.

"The decision not to go ahead with an official opening was taken locally and supported by the RNLI," said Andy Clift, RNLI spokesman.

The flag at Barmouth's lifeboat station has been flying at half-mast since the discovery of Mr Allday's body.

An appeal has been launched to help the men's families.