FAMILY and friends turned out in force to say goodbye to Trowbridge teenager, Hannah Couldrake, who died earlier this month.

The 14-year-old had suffered from a rare illness for most of her life.

However, almost 200 mourners at her funeral at West Wiltshire Crematorium on Friday heard how she was always determined to enjoy life to the full, despite her condition.

Many people paid tribute to her, including Carole Goodwin, head teacher of Larkrise School, where Hannah was a pupil.

She said: "Hannah will be greatly missed by her school mates and by the staff who have known her and worked with her.

"Her loss has left a gap in our school community and we will never forget her."

Hannah had severe learning difficulties but that did not stop her enjoying life.

She was a keen member of the Semington Guides, went to Walwayne Court School once a week to take part in PE lessons and loved to travel.

Her mother, Donna Couldrake, said: "She was a very happy little girl. She loved to be out and about.

"She loved going on the cross-channel ferry and every morning she would ask me if she was going on a boat and if she was going to guides."

Hannah suffered from the rare Marfan syndrome, which affected her skeleton and caused a curvature of her spine.

From the age of two until she was 11 the little girl had to wear a plaster jacket on her upper body.

On her 11th birthday she underwent surgery to correct the curve in her spine.

However, Hannah died in the Children's Hospital in Bristol on November 15, after a pulmonary haemorrhage caused her heart to stop.

Her parents, Donna and Dave, seven-year-old brother, Rhys, and grandparents Eric and Mary Marshall have thanked everyone for their support and for the donations made to Larkrise School.