Tributes paid to 'lovely little girl'

Bunmi's grieving mother, Salimata Shagaya (centre), is comforted

The funeral of tragic schoolgirl Bunmi Shagaya has taken place.

Tributes were paid at a memorial service beforehand with local MP Tessa Jowell describing Bunmi as "a popular, loved little girl".

Friends, family and school colleagues packed into Lambeth town hall in Brixton on Saturday for the service to commemorate Bunmi's life.

Crowds lined the streets to see Bunmi's coffin carried to the service in a white carriage drawn by two plumed Hungarian grey horses.

Bunmi drowned in a lake near Dieppe in France last week while on a school trip.

Bunmi's death has touched hundreds and thousands if not millions of people up and down the country

Tessa Jowell MP

Bunmi's distraught mother Salinata was comforted by her family as she sat behind her 11-year-old daughter's coffin.

Bunmi's sister broke down as she gave a moving tribute to the 11-year-old.

A tearful Rukiyah Shagaya said Bunmi "was a great girl with a great sense of humour".

She said: "She was quiet and always, always, respectful to her elders.

Star pupil

"She loved drawing and singing and dancing in the house."

One of Bunmi's teachers revealed during the service that she was one of two pupils who had attained the highest marks in their school work.

A group of year-three pupils sang a song dedicated to Bunmi and teacher Colette Anderson read a poem inspired by the "lovely little girl."

She said: "Her smile beamed so bright, there was often a chuckle of delight."

Tessa Jowell MP told mourners the whole community was united in grief.

Bunmi's legacy

She said: "Bunmi's death has touched hundreds and thousands if not millions of people up and down the country.

"As we are here today listening only to the sound of tears, perhaps in the weeks and months and years to come there will also be a place for smiles and the pleasure at the way in which Bunmi touched the lives of those who knew her and loved her."

She added that such love would be Bunmi's "immortality".

After the memorial service, the funeral cortege made its way to the Nigerian Muslim Association Mosque in London's Old Kent Road, for a prayer service.

It then headed to Streatham cemetery, where Bunmi was laid to rest.

Bunmi's death 'touched millions of people'

Bunmi was with fellow pupils and teachers at the swimming lake when she disappeared on 2 July.

Her body was recovered from the water three days later and a post-mortem examination showed that she had drowned.

A public prosecutor in France has decided that there is enough evidence for a magistrate to consider possible criminal charges over the schoolgirl's death.

The British embassy in Paris said that the magistrate, appointed on Thursday, would sift through all the evidence with a view to a possible prosecution for "involuntary homicide".

Inquiry

Police took statements from pupils, teachers, and staff at the swimming lake.

An embassy spokesman said they would form the basis of the magistrate's inquiry - which might take "weeks, running into months".

Tessa Jowell: Bunmi's death touched the nation

At this stage of the process no blame has been put on any individuals and it is unlikely the teachers will have to return to France for questioning.

The Shagaya family has demanded an explanation for the child's death.

Lambeth Council has pledged to launch a full independent inquiry.