The funeral of 18-year-old Lydia Eleanor Mary Cole, known to her family as Deda, took place today, Thursday, January 11th at Walford Church, Ross-on-Wye.

Three ice cream vans led the procession to the church from the family home and one transported Lydia in a coffin decorated with beautiful blue and white flowers.

Hundreds of members of her family and friends, including her colleagues from Oak House Nursery, Pan Pizza in Ross-on-Wye, representatives of Walford School and members of the Link Youth Club based in Monmouth.

Her neice, Ellanor Llewellyn, age seven, read a poem she had written with her sister, Caitlyn, age five, which received a round of applause from those inside the church. Richard Chinn and Angela Richardson gave moving tributes to Lydia, describing her as someone who lived life to the full and they shared many happy memories of the ‘giggly’ girl with a beautiful smile.The Ross Gazette attended the funeral and took photographs at the request of Lydia's family.