HUNDREDS of tartan clad mourners gathered to pay tribute at the funeral of Scotland's 'biker historian' David R Ross.

David, 51, who was convener of the Society of William Wallace and a well-known writer and historian, suffered a heart attack at his home in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

Around 400 of David's friends and family - including his daughter Kimberley, 22, partner Shona and ex-wife Karen - packed into South Lanarkshire Crematorium.

David's coffin was carried draped in the Saltire and adorned with a bouquet of thistles as a lone piper played.

Mourners sang the ballad Caledonia during the 45 minute service and heard life long friend Jim McQuillan pay tribute to David.

The congregation was told that David's love for his own country had taken him all over the world.

Jim said: "David loved bringing Scotland to the people. Dave really enjoyed going to Highland games abroad and sharing his knowledge and passion for Scotland.

"He was a charmer and it's fair to say all our days will be a little duller without him.

"All that remains to be said is that on behalf of Scots past and present, thank you Dave."

The congregation then sang along to the Bay City rollers hit Shang-a-lang as the service ended.

In August 2005, to mark the 700th anniversary of Wallace's death, David organised and completed the Walk for Wallace, in which he walked 450 miles from the spot where Wallace was captured in 1305 to his place of execution in London.

He then held a funeral service for Wallace, attended by hundreds of Scots and later wrote a book For Freedom!, charting the last month of Wallace's life.

Among those to pay tribute to David last week was First Minister Alex Salmond, who said: "David Ross was a tremendous enthusiast for all things Scottish, and in particular for the memory of William Wallace.

"Among David's outstanding contributions to the wider understanding of Scotland's history was his leadership of the commemorative march to London in 2005.

"Those of us who attended and contributed to the service at St Bartholomew's at Smithfield in London experienced an occasion as memorable as a state funeral and as moving as a personal testament."