Hundreds of Bonnie Tyler's friends and fans burst into a rendition of Total Eclipse Of The Heart as her coffin was driven home. The singer, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in July at the age of 75.
Procession through the Mumbles
The streets of the Mumbles, Swansea, where Tyler lived and was well-known among locals, were packed with people who knew and loved the singer on Saturday. As the coffin, draped in the Welsh flag, made its way down Newton Road, the crowd burst into applause and song.
Among those waiting to pay their respects was Carys Edwards, 18, who said the singer was "an inspiration to everybody". She said: "Her music touched a lot of people, especially me. I'm quite surprised how many people came here today, but then not as well, because she was such an icon. She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales. Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales, we loved her a lot. When we found out she passed away, it was such a heartbreak to all of us. We cried and everything."
Fans from near and far
Ms Edwards's mother, Melanie Smith, 53, added: "Most importantly, she was a Swansea girl, and she didn't forget that." Some fans had travelled from as far as Austria or Germany to watch the procession, but many knew Tyler from living locally. Sarah Thomas, who lives in Swansea, described the singer as "a normal person who happened to be famous."
Final journey and legacy
A celebration of Tyler's life, for family and friends, will take place at Swansea Minster on Monday, before the singer makes a final journey through her hometown of Skewen. Tyler's death came just months after she was treated in intensive care after being placed in an induced coma following emergency intestinal surgery.
The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s with the release of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which topped the charts in the UK and the US. The album featuring the track, Faster Than The Speed Of Night, was also a chart-topping success and landed her her only UK number one album. Recognisable for her husky voice, Tyler released many other hits, including Holding Out For A Hero, It's A Heartache and If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man). She represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with the song Believe In Me, finishing in 19th place.



