A GRIEVING mother has paid a moving tribute at the funeral of her daughter, who died after the car she was in plunged into the river Avon.

Mourners listened as Kim Wise, mum of Gabrielle Grady, paid tribute to her “lovely daughter” and said: “God wanted you to be with Nanny. Goodnight but it’s not forever baby, just for now.”

She also read out a poem she had written herself which included the line: “Why dear Lord, was she taken from me?”

The five-year-old, known as Gabby, died on Valentine’s day three days after she was pulled from the river in Evesham. She was submerged in her father’s car for two hours.

Ryan, six, who was also in the Vauxhall Vectra when it went into the river – just metres away from their home in Abbots Walk, off Boat Lane, Evesham.

Ryan survived after being pulled from the water by two police officers.

Their father Chris Grady was also rescued from the water during the incident on Thursday, February 11.

At the funeral, at St Barnabas church, Rainbow Hill, Worcester Ryan clung to his mother’s hand as he watched his sister’s tiny white coffin carried onto a horse-drawn carriage.

He wore a pink tie, while his mother wore a pink top and pink scarf, for the 11am funeral service yesterday. Many of the mourners also wore pink clothes and carried pink flowers, to reflect the colour Gabby loved.

They waited outside until Gabby’s coffin arrived, on a white and glass hearse led by two horses sporting plumes of pink feathers.

Floral tributes in pink and white spelled out the words Gabby, Sister, Niece and Princess.

The coffin was topped with pink lilies and accompanied by a floral tribute in white flowers depicting the gates to heaven.

Family members carried the white coffin, embossed with pink butterflies into the church to the sound of James Blunt’s Beautiful.

Inside the church, pink balloons adorned the pews and a large white-framed picture of Gabby was on display.

Family and friends sang the hymn, Fleetingly Known Yet Ever Remembered, to the tune of Morning has broken, before two poems were read by Gabby’s brothers and sisters as an act of farewell.

One of the poems written by the six siblings – Kristie, Jess, Megan, Bobby, Scott and Ryan – was framed and displayed on the altar.

The Reverend Peter Haddleton, the rector for St Barnabas with Christ Church, the parish where Gabby’s family grew up, said they had “come home” for the service.

He said: “The church today is not just filled with people whose lives she has touched, but so many beautiful symbols of who Gabby was, of a life to celebrate in all its brief, intense and dazzling brightness, to mourn because now that light has been extinguished for us at least, of the bitter sweetness of the aching void her loss will mean.”

The congregation listened to music from the film Love Story before a single large pink candle and 31 smaller white candles were lit to remember those who miss Gabby and to give thanks for the love her life and death had inspired.

A poem, When I Must Leave You, was read by Gabby’s great aunt Mary Harding. A tribute to the little girl was given by another aunt Maria Wise, who said: “Our Gabby will always remain our beautiful little girl for ever.”

Jane Hyde, also Gabby’s aunt, write a poem When God He Chooses Angels which was read out by the vicar.

Gabby’s family had chosen the reading Jesus’s farewell to his disciples, from St John’s gospel, from the little girl’s own Bible.

Two other hymns, Jesus Bids Us Shine and All Things bright and beautiful, were also sang during the 45-minute service.

Pink flowers spelling out the word sister carried two messages. One read: “To Gabby, I love you, from Ryan and Bobby.”

The other said: “To my beautiful baby sister. I love you very much and always will. You won’t be forgotten. I will do your hair again some day. Love you big sister Megan.”

A floral tribute spelling out Gabby was accompanied by the message: “My little princess. How I will miss you gorgeous. You will always be in my heart. You’re the best little sister in the world. I will never forget you Gabs. Love you loads, your sister Kristie.”

Another tribute spelled out the words Princess with the accompanying message: “To our beautiful niece. You will be in our hearts forever. God bless sweetheart. Love and kisses always Ben, Sonia, Darren, Sarah, Daniel and Teresa.

Another read: “Gabby, love you little princess, lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses forever, Grandad.

A tribute was also sent by friends from Gabby’s primary school which read: Sleep tight Gabby from the parents and children of Swan Lane school.

Ms Wise released a statement before the service in which she said: “I would like to say a personal thank you to everyone who has opened their hearts to my beautiful angel Gabrielle.

“Heartfelt thanks to the people of Evesham, all rescue services, police and hospital staff. A special thank you to my heroes Phil Styte and Sean Kent for saving my little man.

“The biggest thank you goes to my family for being there for me.”

The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge said that , as the father of a five-year-old himself, he felt for the family in their devastating loss.

He said: “The loss of a precious child in such tragic circumstances is an unspeakable tragedy.”

Gabby was buried at Astwood Crematorium and Cemetery.

The wake was at the Punchbowl in Ronkswood.

• Grady, aged 41, of no fixed address, remains in custody charged with the attempted murder of his children. He has been told one of those charges will be changed to murder.