HUNDREDS of people turned out to say goodbye to “a beautiful and vivacious” young woman.

Earlier this week the Leader reported how Lizzie Bennett, 30, died at Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham on Saturday.

The former pupil of Llay Primary School and Castell Alun High School had Huntington’s Disease.

The Leader:

The procession enters St Martin's Church in Llay

At her funeral, which took place in Llay on Friday, many friends and family members wore pink - which was her favourite colour.

Her bearers, six female relatives, also wore pink ponchos.

The Leader:

Lizzie's bearers all wore pink ponchos

Following the service at St Martin's Church, Lizzie was carried by a horse drawn carriage to Llay Cemetery. The horses also sported pink.

During the service Lizzie's stepdad Ian James paid tribute to her, describing her love of travel and how much he adored her.

The Leader:

Lizzie was taken by a horse drawn carriage to Llay Cemetery

He spoke of the times they had visited Disney World in Florida, which Lizzie had loved, and shared stories from her childhood.

Lizzie's love of Disney was also shown throughout the service, with the Beauty and the Beast theme and the Circle of Life chosen for processional and reflection music, as well as a Disney-themed floral tribute and Disney style font selected for the order of service.

The Leader:

Lizzie's love of Disney also showed in the order of service

About 300 people are believed to have filled the church.

Lizzie's two brothers, Christopher, 37, and Jonathan, 32, both have Huntington’s Disease which has been described as Parkinson’s, Motor Neurone and Alzheimer’s all rolled into one.

The Leader:

Floral tributes

Lizzie moved into Pendine Park’s Penybryn Care Home in Wrexham, which is a centre of excellence for brain injury and neurological care, in February 2018 after her mum, Kim James, could no longer cope with providing the 24-hour intensive care her daughter needed.

According to Kim, Lizzie’s smile lit up any room.

The Leader:

The 'beautiful and vivacious' Lizzie with her grandfather, Tony Cross, before she fell ill

“It’s so horrible having to deal with the death of your only daughter from such a horrible illness," she said.

"I can’t praise the Pendine Park staff enough for their love and support since Lizzie joined Christopher as a resident. They have always been fantastic.”