BABY Sydney-May Burge may have only been three months old when she died, but during her short life she had touched the hearts of so many.

Some 200 people gathered to pay their respects in Cinderford on Tuesday as she was taken in a little pink and white casket which was carried by a horse-drawn hearse to St Stephen’s Church.

Inside the church, which had been decorated with pink ribbons and balloons, Revd Mike Barnsley said to the large congregation: "As you already know Sydney-May was special. Very special.”

He added: "She developed very quickly for a child her age. She was always picking her head up to see who was there.

“She had big dark brown eyes and always loved to meet new people. I never knew her personally, but I understand she had a cute infectious chuckle.”

Sydney-May died at home on December 10 and a candlelight service was held in the Cinderford Triangle a week later.

Sydney-May’s casket was taken into the church to the sound of Ecanescence’s My Immortal. Two poems written especially for Sydney-May were composed by Natalie Lane and Danielle Taylor and read out by Revd Mike. A song ’Dancing in the Sky’ was played at the end of the service.

Revd Mike concluded: "Everybody who knew Sydney-May would make a fuss of her. She loved looking at herself in the mirror and having her photograph taken.

Close family members attended a private service at Yew Tree Brake Chapel.

Sydney-May leaves behind her parents Jemma and Steve and seven siblings.