ABOUT 400 people filled Pershore Abbey on Friday to pay tribute to a Pinvin teenager who died after collapsing in a bar in Worcester while out with friends.

Seventeen-year-old Claire Stones' parents, Peter and Rose, and brother Chris, aged 13, wept as they followed her coffin into the Abbey.

The Pershore High School A-level student had lived with a heart defect since birth and died after a college social at the Marrs Bar in Worcester on Wednesday, April 28.

During the moving service, some of Claire's many friends fought back tears to read poems they had penned for her. "Claire was an angel sent to touch us all," one read.

Another read: "Just because she's been taken away from us does not mean we will forget her because we won't - it would be too hard to forget a remarkable character."

The Rev David Owen said the teenager - who was studying A-levels in drama, information and communication technology and health and social care - wanted to be a teacher. "Claire loved children and spent many happy hours caring for them. Her hope was to train as a primary school teacher, so her natural love for children and youngsters could be developed."

He told the family: "You will have your memories - we all have memories - memories that will encourage us to live life to its fullest, just as Claire endeavoured to live her life to the full."

The hymns during the service included Morning has Broken and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Claire was buried in St Nicholas churchyard, Pinvin, just yards from her home in Owletts End.

Mrs Stones said afterwards:"The family have been overwhelmed with support, we want to thank people very much."

Donations were made in Claire's memory to the Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Hospital heart unit, in Birmingham, where she was treated. An inquest was opened and adjourned on Tuesday, March 4 to a date to be fixed.