Thousands of fans pay last respects to Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Birmingham on Wednesday to pay their respects to metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, who died on 22 July at the age of 76.

Shortly before 13.00 local time (14.00 CET), a funeral procession began moving from the Aston area, planning to pass through Osbourne's hometown, followed by a private funeral ceremony.

Many fans dressed in black could be seen wearing T-shirts or jackets bearing the image of the "Prince of Darkness", as footage from the BBC showed.

Watch the live stream of the procession here:

The procession will pass through Broad Street, where stars bearing the names of famous city residents, including Osbourne, adorn the pavement.

It will also pass the Black Sabbath Bridge, where a bench bearing the faces of the four Black Sabbath band members has been covered with flowers and messages from admirers. 

^{© PHOTO BEN STANSALL / AFP}