TRIBUTES poured in throughout the Christmas period to the father and son from Chatteris who died when their car plunged into the water at Forty Foot Bank on December 20. On Friday more than 300 mourners crowded into St Peter s and Paul s Church, Chatteris

TRIBUTES poured in throughout the Christmas period to the father and son from Chatteris who died when their car plunged into the water at Forty Foot Bank on December 20.

On Friday more than 300 mourners crowded into St Peter's and Paul's Church, Chatteris, for the funeral of Dean Hawes, 27, and his eight-year-old son Jordan.

Extra chairs had been to be found to cope with the numbers attending.

Mr Hawes and his son had been reported missing after he failed to arrive in Huntingdon to collect his partner Michelle from work. A police helicopter spotted the submerged car and raised the alarm.

Jordan was a pupil at Glebelands School, Chatteris, and played football for the Chatteris Under 8s. The town's football club website has been the focus for some of the tributes paid to Jordan in recent days.

Harriet, Ivo and Matthijs Nooteboom wrote: "Unbelievable news about the loss of a lovely little boy (and his dad) whom I had the pleasure to teach French once a week where he lit up the class with his keenness and his brilliant smile. My boys (U9B) said straightaway, upon seeing his picture in the paper: 'Oh, he plays football, I know him'. I'm sure that I'm joined by all the Glebelands boys and their parents from the U9B team (as well as all the others of course) in expressing our condolences to his mum and brother, grieving with them for the unexplainable loss of such a lovely boy who will be remembered for his enthusiasm, his great smile and his brilliant spiky hair."

Rob Thomas, under-7 'black' manager, wrote: "On behalf of Chatteris Under 7s Black we would like to offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Jordan Hawes and his father who died in such tragic circumstances this week. Our thoughts are with you at this time of sorrow."

Bob Wilson, under-7 'orange' manager, posted his family's tribute: "We were very sad on hearing the news of such a young life being so tragically taken along with that of his father.Our thoughts are with all family members along with deepest sympathy,we can never know what they are going through.On behalf of CTYFC U7 Orange we are very sorry for such a sad loss."

Colin Smith, under 8 manager, wrote on the club's website: "It is with my deepest regret that I have to inform everyone at ctyfc of the devastating loss of one of my boys Jordan Hawes who died this morning alongside his father Dean. He will be sadly missed."

* FENLAND District Council will press Cambridgeshire County Council to review safety alongside Fenland rivers, following the Forty Foot tragedy just before Christmas.

At the latest full district council meeting Councillor Alan Melton asked the council leader, Councillor Geoff Harper, if he would join him and other county councillors to put pressure on the county council to review safety procedures and measures along all Fenland river banks.

Cllr Harper, who is county councillor for the Forty Foot division, agreed.