Hundreds have gathered to pay their respects to a beloved beautician who was shot at a pub on Christmas Eve.
Elle Edwards, 26, was celebrating with friends when a gunman opened fire at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, shortly before midnight.
She is not believed to have been the intended target of the attack, which also wounded four men.
Today, her funeral was held at St Nicholas Church in Wallasey.
Locals lined the streets in the rain as mourners arrived for the service at 12.30pm. The funeral cortege was led by a hearse with a floral tribute saying "Elle".
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Elle's coffin was brought in a carriage pulled by four white horses. It was carried into the church, with a floral display on top, by pallbearers including her heartbroken dad Tim.
A message from her grandfather George was delivered to mourners, encouraging them to leave the church "with hope in our hearts".
Mourners were asked for donations to the Elle Edwards Foundation in her memory. Her dad said last week that he hoped a foundation in her memory would combat gun violence in the region.
Mr Edwards told Sky News: "She was beautiful looking and she was a great hugger. She was just a fantastic human being with a heart of gold."
Connor Chapman, 22, has been charged with murdering Ms Edwards and is due to go on trial on June 7.
Elle's funeral was held at St Nicholas' Church in Wallasey (PP.)A horse-drawn carriage carrying Elle's coffin has left the church as the funeral draws to a close.
Hundreds had attended the service and lined the streets to pay their respects to the beloved beautician.
The service will be followed by a private cremation at Landican Cemetery.
The horse-drawn carriage leaves St Nicholas' Church (Liverpool Echo)Elle's family members all wore a pin in a touching tribute at her funeral.
The 26-year-old's dad, nan and grandad were seen with the pin, which appears to show two Es forming a set of wings.
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Although the pin's meaning has not yet been confirmed, it is believed to be linked to a foundation set up in Elle's memory.
Mr Edwards hopes the foundation will combat gun violence in the region.
He previously said: "There's no winners with gun crime. If you pick up a gun, your future is over and everybody else's future around you is over. It's dead simple.
"It's absolutely pointless and it solves nothing. I want to see a positive that comes out of this. Elle's name will be used for good in the future. She can't be forgotten."
The 26-year-old's dad, nan and grandad were seen wearing the pin (PP.)During the service, Reverend Jeff Staples said there was "much in Elle's life that needs to be celebrated".
In his homily during the funeral service, the vicar said he had two "very important needs" to share - the need for peace and the need for hope.
He told the church: "It's not my place to add anything more to what has been said by Elle's family about Elle.
"So, what words do I add for our gathering today? Well I'm going to speak about two very important needs, the need for peace, and the need for hope."
The need for hope came from a conversation the vicar had with Elle's dad Tim Edwards.
He said: "Tim said that he found peace when walking up to the top of a high hill and stopping to gaze out. He experienced stillness and calm, I think that is how many people seek peace, isn't it?
"To get out of the local hub-bub of life and just be in a place of calmness, of stillness, to be in the moment."
Mourners leave the funeral service (PA)A poignant message has been shared at Elle's funeral on behalf of her grandad.
Reverend Jeff said: "May I also share something Elle's grandad George said the other day, and again I hope he doesn't mind.
"George said that we needed to leave this place today with hope in our hearts.
"How true is that? If we lose hope, then the darkness of evil has gained a victory."
Elle's dad outside St Nicholas' Church (PP.)Locals have also arrived outside the church to mark their respects.
One resident who lives nearby told the ECHO: "It’s a tragic incident and we just felt we had to be here. We wanted to mark our respect."
Another said: "It’s just absolutely tragic and a waste of life. That family will never recover. It’s heartbreaking."
Friends and family arrive at St Nicholas' Church (PP.)Pallbearers, including Elle's heartbroken dad, have carried her coffin into the church.
Ms Edwards' coffin was brought in a carriage pulled by four white horses.
Mourners dressed in black had arrived at the church in the rain for the service at 12.30pm.
The bearer party carrying Elle's coffin (PA)Elle's family have released new images of the beautician on the day of her funeral.
An order of service shows that Candy Rain by Soul for Real and People by Libianca will be played.
Friends and family are also being invited to tie a ribbon on the prayer tree.
A message reads: "Elle's family would like to thank all relatives, friends and neighbours for the kind expressions of sympathy and support they have received and for your attendance here today."
The order of service included hymn Be Still for the Presence of the Lord and said a eulogy, Remembering Elle, would be given.
Mourners were asked for donations to the Elle Edwards Foundation in her memory.
Today’s service will be led by Reverend Jeff Staples, who has been in regular contact with Elle’s family.
The order of service (PP.)Photos from the funeral showed heartbroken friends and family gathering at the church, one month after the shooting.
As the carriage arrived at the church, Elle's dad, Tim Edwards, stood outside and greeted mourners.
Last week, Tim said that he is hoping to start a foundation in his daughter's name to help reduce gun violence.
He said: "There's no winners with gun crime. If you pick up a gun, your future is over and everybody else's future around you is over. It's dead simple. It's absolutely pointless and it solves nothing.
"I want to see a positive that comes out of this. Elle's name will be used for good in the future. She can't be forgotten."
Elle's dad, Tim Edwards, greeting mourners outside the church (PA)A horse-drawn carriage adorned with white, red and pink roses has arrived ahead of the service.
Dozens of people lined the surrounding streets to pay their respects to Elle and her family, including those who lived nearby.
The carriage was pulled by two horses draped in pink and two draped in red, while flowers spelt out the words Elle May.
A horse-drawn carriage adorned with pink and white flowers has arrived at the church (PA)Friends and family have started to arrive at St Nicholas's church for Elle's funeral.
Some mourners are also lining the surrounding streets to pay their respects to the beautician.
It is understood that Elle's final journey will take place in a horse drawn carriage.
The funeral will begin at around 12.30pm.
Mourners arrive ahead of Elle's funeral (PA)The pub where Elle was fatally shot has announced it will be closed today as a mark of respect for the 26-year-old and her family.
In a statement on Facebook, the Lighthouse Inn wrote: "We just wanted to let you know that we’ve decided not to open The Lighthouse on Wednesday 25th January as a mark of respect to Elle Edwards and her family on the day of her funeral.
"Elle and her family have remained very much in our thoughts over these past few weeks and even more so right now.
"May she rest in peace."
The pub had remained closed for 12 days following the shooting on Christmas Eve.
A sea of floral tributes have since been left outside, with one saying: "I can't stop thinking about your family Tim.
"I'm so sorry, words will never be enough. I hope Elle can be a beacon of light on your darkest of days and guide you through the years to come. Thinking of you always."
Another tribute read: "The best friends always keep us shining bright."
Floral tributes laid outside the pub in Wallasey (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
