Funeral for heart transplant girl

Louisa died on 29 July after an operation

The funeral of a nine-year-old girl who suffered from a life-threatening heart defect has taken place.

Louisa Harrington died on 29 July after an operation during which she developed a fatal lung infection.

She had been waiting more than a year for a heart transplant.

Family and friends gathered for the funeral at All Saints church in Clevedon, where Louise asked to go every Sunday after being forced to leave school as a result of her condition.

Proud

Assistant Priest, Sharon Constable, from All Saints, became a close friend of Louisa's.

She told BBC Radio: "My memories are of an incredibly spirited little girl.

"She loved cooking and singing in the church and was an extremely courageous girl.

"The whole family is devastated. You cannot begin to touch the pain, but they have been brilliant in this difficult time. They have the support of their family and many friends around them."

Louisa met the Queen, and more recently, the Secretary of State for Health to promote National Transplant Week.

Her parents said they were proud of all she had done to raise awareness of children in need of organ transplants.