A MOTHER who begged her son to give up motorbike racing mourned him after he broke his neck and died in a Brands Hatch crash.

Hundreds of people crowded into Eltham Cemetery, in Falconwood, to

remember Danny Whalin, 22, who came off his Yamaha TZR 250cc motorcycle after colliding with other riders.

His mother Carol Whalin, 50, of Bostall Road, St Paul's Cray, says she will never forget hearing the news.

The mother-of-four said: "There was a crash on the first bend and four bikes were involved. Three riders walked away but Danny didn't.

"He broke his neck and died instantly. They took him to Darent Valley Hospital but he was already gone.

"I was at work when I got the call from his fiancee. I was totally devastated."

Mrs Whalin says she was always against Danny's racing because of the risks involved.

She said: "I hated him doing it and used to beg him to pack it up because it was so dangerous.

"But he loved bikes ever since he was a kid and there was no persuading him."

Mrs Whalin said Danny, who lived with her, will be missed by everybody who knew him.

The cleaning company manager added: "Whatever he turned his hand to, he got a trophy for. Football, snooker, it didn't matter. He had his own lorry repair company and was so friendly. Everyone on the street knew him."

Mrs Whalin has found it hard to cope and has been holding onto Danny's possessions.

She said: "He was my son and he will leave a massive hole in all our lives. I can't even bring myself to throw his shoes away."

Danny was a member of British Motorcycle Racing Club (BMRC), Lydden Circuit, Canterbury, which has now named a trophy after him.

The Danny Whalin Memorial Shield will be presented annually.

Danny, who died on March 8, was also mourned by his fiancee Sarah Burnett, 22, of Kale Road, Thamesmead.

The funeral, on March 26, was attended by Danny's family, friends, members of his club and others from the motorbike racing fraternity.