SOME 800 people attended the funeral of Chelsea Meek, who died at the age of 22 on July 3 following complications arising from two recent liver transplants at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

The large crowd watched as a white carriage hearse pulled by a pair of grey horses, transporting Chelsea’s body to Holy Trinity Church in Drybrook under police escort from her home in Ruardean Hill.

Chelsea’s coffin depicted a Forest woodland scene featuring her beloved dog Dave, a seaside scene, a portrait of Chelsea and her fiancée Louis Overthrow and a message surrounded by butterflies which read: “The greatest gift our parents ever gave us was each other.”

The congregation heard that during her short life Chelsea always brought joy to her family and friends and that she was always wearing a smile.

Rev Nick Bromfield, who led the service, said that Chelsea was, and will continue to be an inspiration to so many people and added that her room, number 726, was the happiest at the hospital.

Scott Taylor, a childhood friend of Chelsea, said: "She would have been so proud to see so many people wearing brightly coloured clothing to celebrate her life."

Full report to be published in The Forester on July 27.