Ronan Keating 'kept final Gately text'

Ronan Keating has said that he kept the last ever text he received from his late friend and Boyzone bandmate Stephen Gately.

The singer told The Sun that he had not deleted the final communication he had from Gately.

Keating said: "I've still got the last text he sent me on that Friday night. It said, 'Got the new songs. Love them pal. Really excited about the new album. Love you straw balls'. That's what he called me.

"I sent him back a stupid text then he went out that night - then he was gone."

He added that he and the surviving members of Boyzone had stayed with Gately's body the night before it was buried in Dublin.

Keating explained: "We didn't want him to be alone in the church and nor did his mum Margaret. He was also afraid of the dark.

"So we said, 'Margaret, don't worry we'll be with him' and we got four sleeping bags and laid with him. It was the most moving experience of my life. It was beautiful. We sat on the pews and we sat on the floor."