WHEN Hot Rod fanatic Martin Elderton died last month, there was only going to be one way he was going out, and that was in style.

The 47-year-old was diagnosed with lung cancer in March, but before he died, he arranged his own funeral details.

And so it was that when his funeral procession passed through his home town of Letchworth, it turned more heads than bowed them.

A fleet of dazzling classic cars followed Mr Elderton’s coffin, which had been specially painted to look like his beloved Triumph car, to Harwood Park Crematorium in Knebworth.

The hearse was decorated with his fishing rods and a fish – Mr Elderton’s other passion.

The funeral was arranged by Co-operative Funeral Care, in Southfield, WGC.

Funeral director and friend Grant Pinney, who is a member of the same Hot Rod club as Mr Elderton was, the A602s, said: “There was a lot of support from the club; we had to make the hearse especially for Martin, and the coffin was made to look like his Triumph 2000.

“It was a really good send off for a real petrol head.”