Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Hunton to say their emotional goodbyes to a popular 22-year-old yesterday.

Beautiful Nicole Parnell died after the car she was driving hit a wall at the junction of Lug Horse Lane and Hunton Hill in December.

Friends walked behind the horse-drawn hearse holding flowers, as her funeral procession made its way from her home in Grove Lane to St Mary's in West Street.

Many had to stand outside the church, which only had space for 400 people.

Her wicker coffin, covered in lillies, was carried inside while Candle in the Wind by Elton John was playing, before being buried in the churchyard.

Before the ceremony, heartbroken mum Sharon, 49, wrote a message to her daughter online, saying: "I can't believe I'm never going to see your beautiful face again. Today is going to so hard but everyone has done you proud.

"I hope you are looking down on us, we all miss you so much. Life will never be the same again. Love you with all of my heart sleep tight my beautiful angel."

Speaking afterwards, she said: "It was a lovely send off and a fitting tribute to her. Everything was beautiful and her coffin was covered in butterflies as everyone said she was a social butterfly.

"The song playing at the end was Dancing in the Sky, which was fitting because she would be."

She also thanked Nicole's friends, who had raised more than £3,000 towards the funeral at an evening dedicated to the carer, at Bar Chocolate.

Donations on the day went to Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.

Nicole died at King’s College Hospital in London in the early hours of December 30, 11 days later, after her life support machine was switched off.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash, which did not involve any other cars.

It happened as she was on her way home from work.

She leaves behind parents Paul and Sharon and three brothers, Jack, 14, Tom 17 and 24-year-old Jamie.