THE funeral of tragic teenager Natasha Coombs will be held in Harwich today - ten days after her body was found in undergrowth close to railway tracks in Manningtree.

THE funeral of tragic teenager Natasha Coombs will be held in Harwich today - ten days after her body was found in undergrowth close to railway tracks in Manningtree.

The 17-year-old will be remembered during a service at St Nicholas' Church, Church Street, Harwich, at 11am.

Her parents, Gary and Joanna Coombs have said Natasha's friends can wear “bright colours”, so the ceremony is a true celebration of her life.

Natasha disappeared on her way home from a night out with friends in Ipswich last month.

Her mobile phone disconnected from its network at about 11.15pm on Friday July 27 close to Manningtree station, where she was due to change trains as she headed back to Dovercourt.

After two weeks of desperate searching, her body was spotted on August 10 in undergrowth by a train driver about a mile down the tracks from the station.

Police said her injuries were “consistent with being hit by a train”, and ruled out any foul play.

Natasha's 18-year-old boyfriend Joshua Brennan is also expected to be at the service today. Just hours before her body was found, he made a plea for her to come home.

Mr Brennan, from Lawford, said that although the couple had decided to take a temporary break from their relationship on the morning of her disappearance, his last words to her had been “I love you”.

A website originally named “Find Natasha” has now become a memorial and hosts a message board dedicated to her, carrying pictures and tributes left by a mixture of friends and strangers touched by her death.

Messages left on the EADT website reveal Natasha's death has touched the hearts of people thousands of miles away as well as those closer to home.