Ordinary Bradford folk rubbed shoulders with Chief Constables and senior politicians yesterday to mourn PC Sharon Beshenivsky.

They stood together, united in grief, to pay their respects as the shot officer's hearse left Bradford Cathedral, following her funeral, to be taken on her final journey.

Officials and members of the public were agreed they had to be present to honour the woman who lost her life trying to protect her community.

As the funeral service came to an end, the cathedral bells began to ring out a solemn repeated single toll and mourners began to slowly stream away.

Dignitaries leaving the funeral were greeted with handshakes and hugs from the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David James, before standing shoulder to shoulder in a line at the roadside as a final tribute to the departing cortege.

Among them were Labour MPS Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South) and Ann Cryer (Keighley), Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton, the Council's Labour leader Ian Greenwood, and Lord Mayor Valerie Binney.

Also in the guard of honour were Mark Burns-Williamson and Clive Richardson, chairman and deputy chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority, and Chief Constables and Assistant Chief Constables from police forces across the UK.

Scores of members of the public stood in solemn silence, many tearful, as the black funeral cars swung out of the cathedral grounds and slowly drove away for the private burial.

Alan Cunliffe, 61, of Eccleshill, travelled into the city centre and watched the cortege pass by City Hall before walking up to see it arrive at the cathedral.

He then waited outside until the funeral was over, only leaving when PC Beshenivsky's coffin was driven away.

He said: "I did not know her but I came down because she was a police officer who died trying to do her duty for all of us. I felt that I had to come down to pay my respects to her and her family.

"It is a sad day. It is sad for society when a police officer can be shot and killed in this way when they are just trying to do their job.

"I respect that officer and her colleagues in the job that they do and she deserves this tribute today."

A friend of the family, Alfred Gruschka, 52, of Bradford, was unable to attend the service but was determined to pay his respects.

He said: "The response of the police and the public of Bradford today has been absolutely brilliant. It is a real tribute to Sharon and her family.

"I couldn't go to the service but I wanted to pay my respects, so I came down to watch the procession. I started outside the police station and followed the cortege all the way to the cathedral.

"It was very moving. There were so many people lining the streets, many of them were in tears. It is very touching that people care so much.

"Sharon had not been in the police force for very long but she had made an impact and she is an enormous loss to the community she was serving so well.

"This sort of thing should never happen and it is right that Sharon is remembered so poignantly and by so many people who never knew her."

One mother took her eight-year-old daughter to stand outside the cathedral so she could appreciate what had happened.

The woman, who did not want to be named, arrived as the cortege reached the cathedral and defied the bitter cold to wait until it left at the end of the service.

She said: "What happened was so awful and scary I had to come. I walked around with my daughter speaking to police officers along the route.

"They were very kind and it was amazing the way they all pulled together and how the whole city has united behind them."

After the service, the Bishop of Bradford said there had been lots of tears during the service which were tears of love and warmth.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said the service had been moving and personal.

He said: "It showed the respect in the city for a tragic and senseless death. Everybody has shown their disgust for what happened and their strength and support for the police, who risk their lives every day."

Tom McGhie, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: "There is no doubt, from what was said in the cathedral, that Sharon was loved by so many people. She had an enthusiasm and love of life. It seems so tragic that that life has been lost to everybody.

"The community of Bradford has lost an officer who have done many excellent things for them. I am sure the support that has come from that community has been a source of comfort for her husband Paul, the family and police officers."