In Pictures | Thousands mourn in Australia as Bishop Joe Grech is laid to rest

The sixth Catholic Bishop of Sandhurst was laid to rest after a funeral service in Bendigo, Australia, this afternoon.

Thousands of people lined the streets and followed the service that bode farewell to Bishop Joseph Grech, who died suddenly last week at the age of 62 after the recurrence of a blood disorder.

Cardinal George Pell lead the funeral service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Bishop Grech was born in Malta in 1948 and emigrated to Australia in 1971 before being ordained as a priest in 1974.

He had served as Bishop for much of central and north-east Victoria since 2001.

Church, education and community leaders have praised him for his commitment to young people and his warm and passionate preaching.