Ref. 27969/5A COMMUNITY in mourning said their final goodbyes to four-year-old Jackie-Danielle Velvick in an emotionally-charged service celebrating her short life.

The Reverend Beth Hutton paid tribute to a "beautiful, adventurous, funny little girl" as mourners, young and old, gathered at St James' Church, Trowbridge, for the funeral on Friday.

The Longmeadow Primary School pupil died a week after falling 20ft from her brother's bedroom window, three days before Christmas.

Close relatives clutched Jackie-Danielle's cherished toys, while 160 mourners paid their respects by wearing lilac her favourite colour.

Mum Cher, 28, was joined by her two sons, Jordan, nine, and Brandon, seven, as she walked behind her youngest child's tiny white coffin covered with floral wreaths and messages.

Tears flowed as Jackie-Danielle's headteacher Maria Vinney read out a poem written especially for Jackie-Danielle, while deputy headteacher Caroline Jackson read a passage from the Bible.

Classmates clung onto their parents for support as the Rev Hutton spoke of Jackie-Danielle's "wonderful zest for life".

"The number of you here today is a great tribute to Jackie-Danielle and wonderful support for her family," she said.

"In the words of her mum, Cher, we are here to celebrate the life she lived, not to dwell on the life she didn't live. The tragedy of her death has touched both the family and community."

Speaking about the effect the tragic accident had on her schoolmates, she said: "At the beginning of term each class had the opportunity to remember Jackie-Danielle and share together the things that were special to them about her.

"The experience of sharing these memories meant that some of the tears and sadness were turned to smiles and laughter, as we pictured a little girl who had brought so much happiness and laughter to those around her. Whether you were one of the children or one of the staff she could make you laugh. To her family Jackie was and is all these things and more."

Jackie-Danielle's coffin was carried out of the church to her favourite song Gareth Gates' Spirit in the Sky.

Money collected at the service will be put towards a headstone.

A burial service was held at The Down Cemetery, followed by a wake at Longfield Community Centre.

Miss Velvick said the number of people offering their support had overwhelmed her.

"I knew there were a lot of people going to go.

"There were a lot of kids from the school who went and they were all coming up to me and giving me a cuddle," she said.

"It was a really nice service. I just focused on getting through it for the boys but they were excellent their schoolteachers are so proud of them and so are we."

For Jackie,

Only the good die young, that's what they say.

Well I guess that saying was proved today.

For today they took you, a beautiful child,

Who was pretty and special with a will that was wild.

Blonde and pretty, an angel you'll be,

Remembered by all as a child who is free,

From the bad things the world offers these days,

The shiniest star you will be always.

And the thing we'll remember most of all,

You Jackie, the sweetest child with the purest of souls,

Goodnight, God bless and sweet dreams.