Bonnie Tyler fans line streets and sing Total Eclipse of the Heart ahead of funeral

Hundreds of Bonnie Tyler fans have gathered to pay their respects to the late singer. The star, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in July at the age of 75.

Those who knew or admired the music icon have lined Newton Road in the Mumbles, Swansea, to watch the procession as she is transported back to her former home. The coffin, accompanied by a photograph of the late singer, was draped in the Welsh flag, and fans burst into applause as they performed her signature track, Total Eclipse Of The Heart.

Amongst those waiting to mark the poignant occasion was Carys Edwards, 18, who said that the singer was an inspiration to everybody. She said: Her music touched a lot of people, especially me.

Im 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.

Carys mother, Melanie Smith, 53, added to PA: Most importantly, she was a Swansea girl, and she didnt forget that. Meanwhile, Michael Bone, 58, and his partner Alan Hawkins, 54, have travelled from Derby to watch the procession.

Mr Bone said: We thought itd be nice to pay our respects. For me personally, its because in my teens, her music was quite prolific, for me it was her most iconic period in the 1980s.

Sarah Thomas, from Swansea said: "Shes somebody that has been part of Mumbles life. She was just a really nice person. Just a normal person who happened to be famous."

Leanne Gwither added that the singer had no airs or graces. Tony Firkins, a friend of Tyler and her family, said: Weve known her for years. Shes a fantastic lady, very generous with her time. Its such a sad thing.

Tyler was famous in the Mumbles for her fabulous Christmas parties, attended by hundreds of locals as well as celebrities, at which she was known to perform Total Eclipse Of The Heart for her guests.

Jan Roach, a friend, said: We know the family very well and its been a tough time for all of us, not just friends, family, but I think the whole of Mumbles. She was so loved by many, many people, were so devastated, were still reeling from the loss of her.

Other fans have travelled from as far as Austria to watch the procession pass through the Mumbles. Newton Road has been lined with hundreds of fans while others wait outside Tylers home on nearby Mumbles Road, with floral tributes laid outside the property.

A celebration of Bonnie'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.

Bonnie died in Portugal weeks after she was placed in an induced coma following emergency intestinal surgery. A message on the Welsh star's website read: "Bonnie's family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in a hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for."

The star, who split her time between South Wales and her home in Faro, Portugal, had been due to embark on a European tour later this year but was hospitalised in May.

Bonnie was initially said to be stable and recovering well from her surgery, but less than 24 hours later, she was placed into an induced coma. Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha reported: "The singer is unconscious and connected to a breathing ventilator in the intensive care unit."

A spokesman for the singer said that Bonnie was "recuperating well" and a recovery appeared to be on the cards. Bonnie is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, an Olympian, whom she married in 1973. The couple had no children together.

The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s with the release of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which shot to the top of the charts in the UK and the US.

Faster Than The Speed Of Night, the album which featured the track, was also a chart-topping success and landed the singer her only UK number one album.

Recognisable for her husky voice, Tyler released many other hits, including Holding Out For A Hero, Its A Heartache and If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man).

She represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malm, Sweden, with the song Believe In Me, finishing in 19th place.

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