Michelle McManus sings and Corrie stars honour Manchester bombing victim Martyn Hett at funeral

Martyn Hett, whose funeral takes places today (Greater Manchester Police/PA Wire)

HUNDREDS of people gathered to pay their respects to Manchester bomb victim Martyn Hett.

The 29-year-old was a huge fan of soap Coronation St, and some of the TV show’s stars made their way to Stockport Town Hall to pay their respects.

Jennie McAlpine (centre right) who plays Fiz Brown in Coronation Street, arrives at the funeral service of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing, at Stockport Town Hall Plaza (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Images have been posted on social media of long queues of people waiting to attend the funeral – with one post noting the mourners had waited ‘two hours’ and that the dress code was ‘black and fabulous’.

People have been queuing for two hours to attend the funeral of Martyn Hett at Stockport town hall. The dress code is "black and fabulous". pic.twitter.com/zfyOC7WWOj

— Frances Perraudin (@fperraudin) June 30, 2017

The family expected the turn-out to be so big that the funeral was also live-screened on Lacy Street.

Helen Worth who plays Gail McIntyre in Coronation Street arrives at the funeral service of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing, at Stockport Town Hall Plaza. (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

A recorded message from Mariah Carey was played to the hundreds of people who attended the service at Stockport Town Hall in memory of the 29-year-old.

In the message, she said: “I just wanted to say that I love you and I’m so happy that we got a chance to meet and I know you’re shining down on us from heaven.

“I’m happy that all your family and friends are gathered together in honour of you and that I played a strong role in your life is an honour to me.”

Martyn Hett’s father Paul Hett (3rd R) stands by the coffin of his son as it arrives at Stockport Town Hall for Martyn Hett’s funeral service (Dave Thompson/Getty Images)

Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus welcomed mourners to the ceremony, which wasplayed to mourners outside on a big screen.

She said she had met Mr Hett when he contacted her on social media to tell her how much he loved her.

‘Martyn was so kind to me’

She said: “I’m just someone that met Martyn because Martyn was so kind to me and kindness is really under-rated, I think, in this world today.

“So for the short time that I knew Martyn, those few years, I’ll be forever grateful I knew Martyn, because Martyn was just so lovely and made such an impact on my life.

“For as long as I live I’ll never forget Martyn and Martyn will always be in my thoughts.”

She sang Emotional and All This Time, the song which she released after winning the TV talent contest in 2003.

Video messages from Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and comedian Jason Manford werealso played at the service, which saw about 600 people gathered in the ballroom of the town hall.

Grimshaw, who met Mr Hett on Twitter, said: “It’s so sad to think that he’s not going to be there every day to make us laugh in the way that he used to.

“He’s a real inspiration and the one thing that I remember from Martyn is that he was a genuine inspiration on how to live your life and he found the joy in every day life and I think we should all try and remember that.”