THE rain clouds parted in Hornchurch last Thursday for the funeral of an extraordinary police officer – who died after a year-long battle with cancer. PC Mick Daly, 52, who had bravery awards, including a Borough Commander and a Commissioner commendati

THE rain clouds parted in Hornchurch last Thursday for the funeral of an "extraordinary" police officer - who died after a year-long battle with cancer.

PC Mick Daly, 52, who had bravery awards, including a Borough Commander and a Commissioner commendation for bravery during the 90's Poll Tax riots, lived in Hornchurch and had served in Havering as well as in other boroughs across London.

Dozens of police officers from across the London boroughs, where PC Daly served his 28 years on the force, flanked the route taken by the horse-drawn funeral cortege as it made its way to St Alban's Roman Catholic Church, in Elm Park.

His brother, Chris Daly, also a police officer in the Metropolitan Police, said: "He was a brilliant brother and a great police officer."

PC Daly died of oesophagus cancer on March 12, and hundreds of mourners, including his wife Michelle and 19-year-old son Alan, as well as friends and colleagues, crammed into the church, with many having to stand at the back.