A REMARKABLE funeral cortege, made up of dozens of HGV truck cabs, left Thurrock this afternoon in tribute to the founder of a borough-based haulage company.

The coffin of Suresh Karia, the founder of ATL Haulage which is now run by his two sons - Amit and Ash - followed a lorry bearing his nick-name of Zak. Close to the service in London, the coffin was due to be transferred to the truck bed for Mr Karia's final journey.

The cortege left the ATL depot on the London Gateway Logistics site near Corringham just before 3pm today (Friday, 6 May), where workers stood in tribute by the depot gates, and made a spectacular and moving homage to the man as it travelled towards the A13.

Mr Karia's coffin leaves the ATL depot.