1,500 honour blaze death firemen

Colleagues from all over the country gathered to remember the men who died in the worst tragedy faced by the London Fire Brigade for more than a decade.

Fifteen hundred people attended the memorial service at Westminster Cathedral to pay their respects to firefighters Bill Faust and Adam Meere.

Mr Meere, 27, from Farnham, Surrey, joined Whitechapel fire station in May, just after his basic training. He died on 20 July fighting the blaze in Bethnal Green.

His father Pat, who gave a tribute to his son at today's service, was a firefighter before him, as was his girlfriend Natalie's father as well.

Mr Faust, 36, from Banstead, Surrey, was the backbone of the station. He had been there for seven years and was considered a key member of the team.

He left a widow, Michelle, and three children. William, six, was at the service to hear the tributes but two-year-old twins Mea and Pearl stayed at home. The fire started in a children's clothes shop and spread to the flat above. Thirty firefighters dealt with the blaze, rescuing two brothers from the flat.

Mr Meere and Mr Faust were overcome by the fire and smoke. By the time their colleagues got them out it was too late. The London Fire Brigade is not used to dealing with such tragedies - the last time a firefighter was killed in the capital was in 1993, when Michael Hill, 33, died fighting a fire in Willesden. Trainee firefighters formed a guard of honour as the London Fire Brigade's colours were carried to the cathedral. Commissioner Ken Knight paid tribute to the "professionalism and courage" of the two men.

Mr Meere's brother Daniel and Mr Faust's father David joined in the prayers along with the firefighters' station officer Jon Scott. The service was attended by Mayor Ken Livingstone.