April Jones funeral: town decorated pink in her memory says farewell to murdered five-year-old

The family of April Jones bid her a final farewell today as the town that shared their grief came to a standstill.

As the tiny white coffin carrying her remains was borne through the streets of Machynlleth in a white horse-drawn hearse, townsfolk stood in silence or followed behind, all wearing pink in tribute to the schoolgirl.

Mourners held each other for support as the coffin was carried into St Peter’s Church, where the Rev Kathleen Rogers conducted the service.

Rev Rogers spoke briefly about April before the emotionally charged gathering began singing the hymn Memories Sad and Beautiful to the tune of All Things Bright and Beautiful.

She told mourners: ‘We know that there are no words we can say at this moment to express what we are feeling. No words can alleviate our sorrow or take away our pain.’

April parent’s Paul and Coral and siblings Jazmin and Harley stood at the front of the church for the service.

Rev Rogers said April ‘touched all of us’ and while there was sorrow ‘grief goes hand in hand with love’.

‘We have come to celebrate her short life and grieve together, to say goodbye. It’s a bittersweet moment.

‘Our hopes and dreams have changed because April has been taken from us.

‘But you know, we come also with a sense of thanksgiving for the many ways that April touched our lives and those with whom she came into contact.’

The rural town was adorned with the five-year-old’s favourite colour, as mourners lining the street dressed in pink, and ribbons were decorating railings, shop windows and lampposts.

They were adopted by locals as a symbol of hope that April would return home safe, but now serve as a sign of support to her family as well a reminder that people have not forgotten her.

On a communal piece of grass, just yards from her home, stands a memorial garden featuring a pink dolls’ house, pink ribbons and scores of pink flowers.

As the tiny coffin was carried by family members, April’s mother Coral wept, holding her hand to her face, comforted by Paul, while other relatives fought tears.

Mourners held each other for support as the coffin was carried inside, many wiping tears from their eyes.

Among the crowds were members of the mountain rescue, who helped search for April.

Paedophile Mark Bridger, 47, was convicted of the killing in May and was sentenced to a whole life term in prison but still will not reveal where April’s body is.

Search teams combed the area around the town for more than six months looking for a trace of April without success.

Just 17 tiny pieces of bone, fragments of her skull, were recovered by detectives from the fireplace of Bridger’s cottage in a nearby village.

Her family had been denied a funeral until the inquest allowed a death certificate to be issued.

Donations made at April’s funeral will be used to sponsor a five-year-old girl in a village in Uganda through the charity World Vision UK.