Heart-felt and emotional tributes were paid to Jade Anderson, the 14-year-old girl killed by a pack of dogs, at her funeral in Chorlton this afternoon.
Jade died on March 26 in Artherton, Wigan, after being attacked by two Staffordshire bull terriers and two bull mastiff dogs.
Her step-father Mike Anderson led the tributes, saying: “Our Jade was very beautiful. She could walk in a room and fill it with joy.
“She had sad times in her life, the moods, the strops, especially if we took her One Direction CDs! But she always kept her head high.”
Many well wishers were at the service, with family members, friends and class mates joining together to remember her life.
Described as ‘the world’s biggest One Direction fan’, Jade’s coffin was carried in to the church while the band’s hit song What Makes You Beautiful played.
He added: “She’s shining in the sky now, that’s the place she’ll always be. She’ll always be in our hearts. We love you unconditionally.”
The service took place at St Clement’s Church in Chorlton, south Manchester, at 12.00pm.
TRAGIC: Jade Anderson and her funeral procession in Chorlton today
Several family members and friends wore ‘Justice for Jade’ t-shirts and urged people to sign a petition to make owners accountable for their dogs.
The petition currently has more than 10,000 signatures, but police have said there are no plans to prosecute anyone in relation to Jade’s death.
Her cousin said: “There are many things you could say about Jade, she was beautiful and always turned heads. I would never stand a chance when I was with her.
“She was just perfect, an amazing person. She was my favourite cousin.”
Jade’s younger sister Sianne also spoke, saying Jade always helped her with her homework and gave her big hugs.
Classmates of Jade at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley raised the money to help her family pay for the funeral.
Four hymns were sang in total, beginning with Bind us Together and ending with Abide With Me, before One Direction played again as the coffin exited the church.
Jade’s coffin was led out of the church by horse and carriage and taken for burial at Southern Cemetery.
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