Children in pink football kits held hands with their parents as they arrived to pay their respects at the funeral of murdered schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel this morning.
Mourners attending the service were told to wear ‘a splash of pink’ to pay tribute to the nine-year-old who was shot dead in her own home in Liverpool last month.
Mum Cheryl, 46, began by reading a eulogy to her daughter, followed by Olivia’s older sister Chloe at St Margaret’s Mary Church in the Knotty Ash part of the city.
Olivia was killed when a gunman chasing convicted criminal Joseph Nee burst into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on the evening of August 22.
Today loved ones are gathering for the youngster's funeral which is being held at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Church, a stone's throw from where she went to school.
In tears, Olivia’s mum Cheryl clutched a pink teddy bear as the crowds entered the church.
As she opened the service with a heartbreaking eulogy, Cheryl broke down in tears as she blew a kiss to her daughter and told her ‘goodnight, I love you, see you in the morning’.
She said: “On Thursday 13th June 2013, weighing just 4lbs 2oz, my beautiful Liv came into this world. She was six weeks early and spent nine days in the special baby unit. She was so small…
“Liv was loved and adored by everyone and she will never be forgotten. I will never say goodbye but what I will say is goodnight, I love you, see you in the morning. Mwah.”
A grey cloud descended over the Merseyside skies as tearful crowds arrived wearing pink ties, tops, jackets and ribbons in their hair.
A horse drawn carriage covered in pink and white flowers brought Olivia’s tiny coffin to the church where pall bearers wore pink cravats.
Floral tributes in one of the cortege vehicles spelled out the word 'daughter'.
Next door, staff and teachers hung pink heart bunting from the gates of Olivia’s school, St Margaret Mary’s Junior School.
In the windows, students had stuck pink hearts and banners saying ‘Love Liv’ in the windows and pink bouquets were left under the school’s sign.
Headteacher Rebecca Wilkinson said that pupils would be watching Olivia’s favourite film, Matilda, instead of lessons on the day of her funeral.
She added that the schoolchildren had also been offered counselling following the traumatic loss of Olivia.
On the back cover of the order of service a black and white giggling picture of Olivia above a touching poem entitled My Little Angel by Joyce Grenfell.
It read: “you’ve just walked on ahead of me, and I’ve got to understand, you must release the ones you love, and let go of their hand.”
On the front was a smiling photo of Olivia wearing a Mickey Mouse dress with big brown eyes peering up.
Traffic stopped and the street fell silent as a white horse drawn carriage pulled Olivia’s rainbow coloured coffin to her funeral mass.
Mourners broke down and heads hung to the floor as the tiny coffin decorated with pink butterflies and accompanied by a large purple teddy arrived at the church.
People hung out of car windows, stopped on the street and watched on silently as others wrapped their arms round each other.
Even Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon OP and parish priest Father Roy Cooper adorned pink zuchettos and a ‘splash of pink’ on their robes.
Among the mourners were Olivia’s big brother and sister, Ryan and Chloe, dad John, mum, Cheryl and stepdad Jimmy as well as aunties, uncles and grandparents.
The pink theme flooded out onto the street outside the church where members of the community filled every corner of pavement as they gathered to pay their respects.
Pink wreaths were hung on the doors of houses nearby.
People across Liverpool and the nation were left stunned and appalled when Olivia was shot and killed in her own home last month.
The schoolgirl was hit while hiding behind her mum, Cheryl Korbel, as a gunman burst into their home at around 10pm. She was rushed to hospital where she was tragically pronounced dead.
Cheryl was also taken to hospital with injuries to her wrist after the bullet passed through her, striking her daughter in the chest.
The grief-stricken mum described Olivia as "my little shadow" who "went everywhere with me".
In an emotional statement given in the weeks after her death, Cheryl said: "Everyone that she met, they all fell in love with her. She left a mark on everyone that she met and she may well have only been nine but she packed a lot into them nine years."
Nine arrests have been made in connection with the murder probe but all nine have since been bailed or recalled to prison.
The gunman's whereabouts remain unknown despite pleas from Cheryl for anyone sitting on information to "own up".
Crimestoppers founder and Tory peer Lord Ashcroft yesterday announced a £50k reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the killer.
Officers meanwhile carried out searches at a nearby golf course for the murder weapon used in the crime.
