AROUND 150 mourners have paid their final respects to the seven-year-old who died of suspected meningitis last week.

Emily Davidson's funeral was held at Worcester Crematorium on Monday.

Rather than traditional black mourning outfits, many members of the congregation chose to wear pink clothes in honour of Emily's love of Barbie dolls.

Pink flowers were also placed on Emily's coffin, which was taken into the crematorium accompanied by her favourite song, Buff-alo Soldier by Bob Marley.

The Grove Infants School pupil lived in Mountbatten Road with her mother Lizzie, step-father Mark, sister Jessica and brother Marcus.

Her mother said: "Emily was a beautiful girl and it's lovely to see that so many people have turned up to pay their respects."

A delegation from Emily's school, including headteacher Margaret Lynch, head of governors John Redfern, class teacher Karen Danks and teaching assistant Gail Hodges, were among the mourners.

The school will make a collection in aid of the Mening-itis Research Foundation. A book of condolence has been opened and signed by parents in the Grove's reception, to which children will be contributing drawings.

An inquest into Emily's death was opened on Wed-nesday, July 9, and adjour-ned until a date to be set.