HUNDREDS of police officers lined Oxford city centre’s streets yesterday to say goodbye to one of their own.

Colleagues of PC Andrew Harper bowed their heads as the coffin made its way through the ‘sombre’ silent streets towards Christ Church Cathedral.

Horses from the mountain section of Thames Valley Police led a convoy of black cars carrying Andrew’s wife Lissie, brother Sean and other family members to the church – where more than 800 people gathered for the private funeral.

Ahead of the procession of cars, which began at Magdalen Bridge before making its way down High Street towards St Aldate’s, crowds of people stood at the barriers.

READ: The funeral, as it happened

Some of them were uniformed forces, including a squad of firefighters, who were among the first groups to secure a spot opposite the cathedral entrance.

As a sign of respect, the firefighters, who were dressed in their yellow uniforms, took off their helmets and bowed their heads as the hearse turned into the cathedral’s quad.

Other Thames Valley Police officers, who were not on duty, were also in the crowds.

One officer, based in Aylesbury, who did not want to be named, said: “I crewed with Andrew, I have come to pay my respects.

“Its a very sombre atmosphere but it’s so nice to see everybody come together to support this.

“From my experience with Andrew he was great, really down to earth lovely guy.

“What makes this situation so bad is the family situation as well, he had just been married.

“It’s touched everybody as well, not just local police officers, but from around the UK too and everybody’s here – we’re police family.”

Local’s armed with raincoats and umbrellas also waited on the pavements.

READ MORE: Andrew Harper's wife Lissie reads emotional tribute to 'gentle giant'

Josephine Fisher and Jenny Darnley, both from Oxford, explained how the tragic circumstances of PC Harper’s had touched them, and how they wanted to stand in solidarity with the police.

Ms Fisher said: “There has been a real added prominence that this young man, who was newly married, was killed in a random act of violence.

“I have sons and I think about how I would deal with that.

“The least you can do is come out and stand here to show support for the family and show that there is no respect to those who have perpetrated.”

Rob Bailey was another local, who was working in town before his team decided to put work on hold to pay their respects.

He said: “We’ve all come out. We just decided to pay our respects, we’re at the market and had been following that happened on the news.”

Another man, from Abingdon, Eddy Cuentas, said: “I was on my way to town and I stopped to see what was happening. I asked a police officer and he said it was funeral – I had been following it all on the news and so I stopped to pay my respects.

“My son in law is a police officer, so it’s really touching and important to stand and show respect.”

The bells of Christ Church rang throughout the morning and 20 officers waited at the entrance.