Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

Image source, Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images

We've been covering the funeral of Gary "Mani" Mounfield, the much-adored bassist of The Stone Roses, who died last month at the age of 63.

The band's lead singer Ian Brown told the BBC Mani had been "like a brother" to him.

“He was the life and soul of any room he was in," Brown told the funeral service.

Outside Manchester Cathedral, hundreds gathered to pay their own final respects as the band's famous anthem I Wanna Be Adored was played repeatedly on loudspeakers.

Primal Scream's lead singer Bobby Gillespie said his friend and former bandmate Mani had made him "feel like a million dollars".

They were joined by Madchester legends including Happy Mondays' Bez and The Charlatans' Tim Burgess. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher - who credits The Stone Roses for influencing his own music - carried Mani's coffin out of the cathedral.

Away from music, Mani was a passionate Manchester United fan and a regular at Old Trafford.

Red Devils legends Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville also turned up to pay their respects.

We're about to end our live coverage - you can read Paul Glynn's report here.

Image source, Goedefroit Music/Getty Images

Our colleagues at BBC Radio Manchester have just flagged up a fantastic caller they've spoken to.

Dennis Rogerson, from Saddleworth, says: "When Mani was a young lad of 16 he came working for me on work experience - he was quite a lad! Lovely fella, love him to bits really.

"But he kept nipping out the workshop and I had half an eye on him like, couldn’t just quite catch him.

"Anyway I did catch him and I said, ‘where have you been?’ and he said ‘I’ve been having to go the toilet I’ve had a bit of diarrhoea’

"So I didn’t bother. A few minutes later I went out and got in the van and there was this ginormous, I think you call it a graphic equalizer he had put in a Sherpa van of mine, and I couldn’t believe it.

"As soon as I turned the van on, it blasted my ears out something terrible and he was stood laughing at me at the door. He was a right good lad.

"He was upfront, he said it as it was, always up for a laugh, a scam, always mithering me to let him use the workshop for his band, which I daren’t let him, because my workshop was right next to some terraced houses and no, I couldn’t have coped with the neighbours.

"But one day he said to me ‘you are a man about town, round Oldham drinking and that, and I said 'well I have a drink or two’ and he said ‘well when you are round town me and my mates have a band do you think you can get us a few bookings?’

"And I said ‘You can get lost Mani - so my claim to fame is, you are talking to the man who possibly turned down managing The Stone Roses. Unbelievable."

Caitlin Doherty
Live reporter

Legends of Manchester's music scene have been among the mourners pictured at the Manchester Cathedral service for Gary "Mani" Mounfield.

Stone Roses bandmate Ian Brown was pictured arriving ahead of the funeral, shortly before Peter Hook from Joy Division and New Order.

Happy Mondays' Bez described Mani as "a proper one of the boys" and that he will be "truly missed", while lead singer of The Charlatans Tim Burgess wrote on social media that "it's all about Mani today".

Oasis' Liam Gallagher was also pictured arriving ahead of the service and later carried Mani's coffin out of the funeral service.

Away from music, Manchester United legends Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville attended the funeral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses bassist, who was a massive fan of the Red Devils.

Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you more pictures, as Liam Gallagher and The Stone Roses drummer Alan Wren carry Mani's coffin in a procession following the Stone Roses star's funeral at Manchester Cathedral.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Georgie Docker
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

Crowds remain outside Mancheser Cathedral as those who attended the service file out.

Songs such as Goin' Back, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and Bob Marley’s Redemption Song are playing as Mani's family and friends leave.

Earlier crowds closed their eyes and bowed their heads as hymns and prayers played over the loudspeakers.

Some joined those inside in reciting The Lord’s Prayer.

Mourners who were inside the cathedral gather outside, quietly talking amongst themselves.

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter

With Mani on bass, Ian Brown on vocals, John Squire on guitar and Alan "Reni" Wren on drums, The Stone Roses were at the forefront of the "Madchester" indie scene of the late 1980s and early 90s.

Combining a melting pot of influences from across indie, punk, psychedelic rock, dance, funk and reggae, they released their beloved debut album in 1989.

The self-titled LP featured such classic songs as I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs The Drums and I Am The Resurrection, all underpinned by the unmistakable grooves of Mani's basslines.

It was named the greatest British album of all time by the Observer in 2004 and the NME two years later.

Its harder-rocking follow-up Second Coming came out in 1994.

Both albums reached the top five in the UK.

Georgie Docker
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

Bob Marley's Redemption song is currently playing as the crowd waits for Mani's coffin to leave the cathedral at the end of the funeral service.

Image source, Reuters

The BBC has been in Heaton Moor in Manchester, where Mani lived, speaking to fans about why they've come out this morning to pay their respects.

Denise Thirsk, 65, says "my children are big fans of Mani and The Stone Roses... so obviously I got into listening to the music, especially when I got in my son's car it was always on."

She adds that she came today because she was "really quite attached to the group".

Alan McEwen, 58, says he wants to "just show an appreciation and respect for what he did because he was a fantastic part of a brilliant band, several brilliant bands."

He adds that he's "never seen so many people out", and observes that the funeral has drawn bigger crowds than Manchester's famous Christmas markets.

"He meant a lot," says Tara Mooney, 17. "I'm a massive Stone Roses fan, it was really upsetting to hear when he died.

"We all just wanted to come out and be together and pay our respects."

Georgie Docker
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

The crowd gathered here remain standing still in solemn silence as they continue to listen to the funeral service.

Georgie Docker
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

Bobby Gillespie continues that Mani's enthusiasm and positivity "was contagious".

He compares Mani, due to the aura he had, to footballing legends Diego Maradona and Eric Cantona.

"Mani's not dead, he’s just gone," says Gillespie before perhaps referencing another song synonymous with Manchester.

"He will always live forever in my soul and mind," he says.

Paul Glynn
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

Image source, Getty Images

Brown continues that “Mani wouldn’t want us to be broken-hearted but we are".

He is then applauded after suggesting a campaign for a 50ft gold statue of Mani in Manchester.

Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie then pays tribute, joking that Brown is a hard act to follow.

Gillespie recalls having first met Mani at the legendary Manchester nightclub Hacienda.

“He made me feel a million dollars… he was like that with everyone," says Gillespie.

Georgie Docker
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

We've got some more tributes from Primal Scream lead singer Bobby Gillespie.

"Mani's warm and welcoming manner, treating me like an equal, made me feel like a million dollars and I’ll never forget that," he tells the congregation at Manchester Cathedral.

"No-one was too important to escape his laser-eye ability to cut the pretentious and self-important down to size, myself included!

"His ability to make laughter out of any situation was our great value wherever we were in the world."

Paul Glynn
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

Image source, Reuters

The Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown is now speaking at the service.

“Mani was like a brother to me , a musical comrade," he tells the congregation.

"Beautiful soul and spirit.

"Mani was able to laugh his way through any darkness.

“He was the life and soul of any room he was in."

Mairead Smyth
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

With the funeral service now under way, the mood has understandably become a lot more sombre.

Hundreds of people are here, outside Manchester Cathedral, standing silenty with their heads bowed as the first hymn begins.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Kevin Cummins/Getty Images

All of the invited guests are now inside Manchester Cathedral for the funeral service.

Paul Glynn
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

Image source, PA Media

I Wanna Be Adored is playing on repeat on the speakers outside Machester Cathedral.

Warm applause fills the air from those who have come to pay their own respects to one of Manchester's most beloved sons.

People are continuing to arrive ahead of Mani's funeral service, and the guest list includes many of the biggest names from the English rock scene.

Former bandmates are among those coming to pay tribute - including Mani's bandmates John Squire and Aziz Ibrahim from The Stone Roses, and Bobby Gillespie - who he played with in Primal Scream for many years.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Georgie Docker
Reporting from Heaton Moor

Earlier, the funeral cortege made its way about eight miles from Heaton Moor in Stockport, where Mani lived, to Manchester Cathedral in the city centre.

White and red roses were tied to railings, and lots of lemon emblems were printed and tied up to railings and lampposts along the procession route.

Image source, Georgie Docker/BBC

Oasis have often spoken about the huge influence The Stone Roses had on their music, and as they were growing up in Manchester.

Frontman Liam Gallagher is here to pay his final respects to Mani, who has universally been described as one of the most genuine, warm and friendly musicians of his era.

Paul Glynn
Reporting from Manchester Cathedral

The unmistakable sound of Mani’s thunderous bass grooves on The Stone Roses track I Wanna Be Adored are now ringing out.

The man who played guitar on that track, John Squire, is well within earshot and is waiting to enter the cathedral for his old friend's funeral.

Another man adored in Manchester, Stone Roses fan Liam Gallagher, has just arrived dressed in a black duffle coat and shades.

Image source, Getty Images