CARING, compassionate and dedicated, just some of the tributes paid to Fr Peter Smith, 58, who was buried yesterday (Tuesday).

Hundreds of parishioners, friends, pupils and relatives packed St Bede's RC Church in Appleton Village to bid farewell to this popular parish priest. So many people came, priests had to go outside to administer communion.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Vincent Malone, led 60 priests as they concelebrated his requiem mass.

Hundreds more people attended a vigil mass the night before. Bishop Malone offered Fr Peter's mother, Kitty and brother, Terry condolences from Bishop of Liverpool Patrick Kelly.

His death came two weeks after his sister-in-law, Judith died. Fr Peter was ordained 28 years ago and spent 11 years as a Divine Word Father working in the missions in Philippines and Brazil. He was a prison chaplain at Risley and Manchester before joining the Liverpool Archdiocese as a secular priest in 1994.

One parishioner wore an Everton scarf as she read the first reading, recalling his love of football and great sense of humour.

He spent the past five years in Widnes, striving for justice and peace, as he served the community. He died at Whiston Hospital on September 6, weeks after being in a coma following a brain haemorrage.