AROUND 700 mourners paid their last respects in a moving funeral service for a Sandwell Council worker, his father and nephew, who were all murdered in the Tunisia beach massacre.

The clergyman who conducted the funeral of 49-year-old Adrian Evans, a manager at the gas serves department in Oldbury, and the relatives who died with him said they all tried to protect each other right to the end.

Adrian, his father, Charles Evans, aged 78 - known to friends as Pat - and nephew Joel Richards, 19, from Wednesbury, who was a PE and sports coaching student at the University of Worcester, were among the 38 people killed in the gun attack on the Tunisian beach at Sousse last month.

Thirty of the victims were Britons.

The joint funeral of Adrian and Charles Evans and Joel was held last Friday (July 17) at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, West Bromwich where Adrian had been baptised and his father was married.

Among the mourners was Joel's 16-year-old brother Owen, who survived the attack, and their mother Suzanne.

The tragic trio were killed within 24 hours of arriving in Tunisia - and a photograph of them sitting happily side by side on the flight out to their holiday featured on the order of service.

Addressing those inside the church - and around 200 people who gathered outside to listen to the service - Monsignor Bruce Harbert described the murders as "an evil act" and paid tribute to the way the family had tried to protect each other.

"Even in their last moments they stayed together, seeking to protect each other, a true Christian family to the end," he said.

"Happily, Owen is still with us.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Owen, wishing you a long, happy and fruitful life, supported by the prayer of your brother, your uncle and your grandfather.

Monsignor Harbert also said: "What happened to them is part of a much larger picture, a global conflict."

"This is often spoken of as an attack on British values. But there are no true British values that are not also Christian values, in particular, the value of freedom."

He added: "In our society, men and women mingle together freely.

"This freedom brings challenges and dangers, but it is previous to us and it is the gift of Jesus Christ."

The service was one of five that took place the same day for eight of the 30 Britons killed in the attack - the others were in Yorkshire and London.

Around 100 people lined the streets as the funeral cortege made its way to Holy Cross Church and some of the mourners wore "Keep Calm and Smile" T-shirts.

The public funeral for Joel and Charles, both from Wednesbury, and Adrian, from Bilston, was followed by a private family service at Sandwell Valley Crematorium, West Bromwich, before family and friends made their way to Walsall FC for a celebration of their loved ones' lives.