Thousands in Trafalgar Sq for service

Thousands of people gathered to watch the Pope's funeral on a giant television screen in Trafalgar Square.

The screen was provided by the BBC to allow Londoners the chance to share their communal grief.

Last night, thousands converged on the centre of London to honour the life of the Pope with a candlelit procession.

An estimated 12,000 mourners carrying white candles and Polish flags gathered last night for the vigil. People crowded into

Vigil: mourners in the capital light candles for the Pope

Trafalgar Square to pray and then a procession headed from the Houses of Parliament, past Westminster Abbey and on to Westminster Cathedral.

The event was organised by Polish radio station Radio Hey Now. Station editor George Matlock said the idea formed after an email from a listener suggesting a service.

"We had 60 hours to organise it and we estimated there would be between 50 and 100 people.There were many Polish people here last night but there were also a lot of British people because we broadcast in both languages," he said.

One mourner, Mouika Szpadliewicz, 24, from Walsall, said she felt it was important to join the procession. "We want to be together to give honour to our Polish Pope."