Potter actor was 'living dream'

The hearse left the family home in Swanley, Kent

The father of teenage actor Robert Knox, who stars in the upcoming Harry Potter film, has said his son was "living the dream" when he died.

Colin Knox addressed hundreds of family and friends at a memorial service at St John the Evangelist Church in Sidcup, south-east London, on Wednesday.

Robert, 18, was stabbed to death outside a bar in Sidcup last month.

Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, was among the congregation.

Robert's father said the family had been living in a nightmare since his son's death on 24 May.

'Robert in your hearts'

The young actor played wizard Marcus Belby in the forthcoming film Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.

Mr Knox said: "Rob loved the part of Marcus Belby. He loved being part of the international iconic story of Harry Potter. He was always talking about the people he worked with."

He said Robert had always put others first and urged his friends to "hold Robert in your hearts".

"If there's a piece of Rob in you, then take that with you for the rest of your life and keep it for Rob," he said.

Actor Rupert Grint was among the hundreds of mourners

He described the loss of his son as being "so powerful... it's like having a nightmare, in fact it is a nightmare - we live it every day.

"But there's no waking up from it, feeling relief and you never revert back to normal."

The congregation of hundreds spilled into the aisles and paid tribute to the family with a minute-long applause.

A band made up of family friends played 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' with the lyrics changed to a plea against knife crime.

During the service Reverend Neil Abbott spoke of Robert's senseless, tragic and cruel death and how knife crime was "ravaging our society."

Some mourners carried yellow carnations and others wore T-shirts emblazoned with '2 Young To Die' written in florescent pink.

A private funeral was held earlier at Eltham.

Karl Bishop, 21, from Sidcup, has been charged with murder and wounding.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 2 September.

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