EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a “beautiful” schoolgirl who was killed in a road accident near her home.

Annie Davidson

EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a “beautiful” schoolgirl who was killed in a road accident near her home.

Jordan Bell was killed on Layer Road, Colchester, last month and yesterday the 14-year-old's funeral was held at the Garrison Church of St Alban the Martyr.

It was standing room only as more than 200 people packed the church to hear tributes and prayers from Jordan's family and friends, as well as watching a moving slideshow of the Alderman Blaxill School pupil's life.

Her grief-stricken father, Steve, was given respectful applause after he spoke in tribute to his daughter who “bought so much joy to everyone.”

Mr Bell remained composed as he described how Jordan, who was born on July 7, 1993, arrived on the seventh of the seventh, at seven minutes to seven and weighing exactly seven pounds.

“The moment she opened her big blue eyes we knew we had been blessed,” he said. “All our dreams came true and all our prayers were answered.”

He said Jordan “was always smiling and her generosity held no bounds” and added: “She lived her short life to the full and we truly believe she enjoyed everything she did.”

Mr Bell, and his wife, Michelle, pledged that their memories of Jordan would help them to move forward and live their lives fulfilling their daughter's dreams.

He broke down as he finished: “Our beautiful daughter Jordan, our sunshine, you were everything we ever wanted and you will always be with us and loved by everyone. God bless, darling.”

The service, which was led by Padre Alan Steele, began as Jordan's coffin was bought into the church as Dreams by Gabrielle was played.

Hymns were sung including All Things Bright and Beautiful and Onward Christian Soldiers which was in tribute to the men of 2 Para who are currently in Afghanistan.

Mourners wept as they watched a slideshow of Jordan, as Beautiful by James Blunt played in the background.

Put together by a schoolfriend from the Bell family albums, it showed Jordan beginning as a tiny baby up until shortly before her death and included milestones such as her christening, meeting Father Christmas and her first day at school as well as family holidays in Egypt, Majorca and the Canary Islands.

A tribute was also read out from her best friend Amy Watson describing the fun the teenagers shared as they had sleepovers together eating Galaxy bars and singing songs from the film Bridget Jones's Diary.

“You will always be my best friend and made me the person I am today,” her tribute read.

Bible readings, poems and prayers were also read out before Jordan's coffin was taken from the church to Colchester Crematorium where a second service was held for just family and close friends.

Jordan died in Colchester General Hospital shortly after colliding with a car in Layer Road as she walked to meet a friend on March 21.

The car driver, a 27-year-old local man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs and has been released on bail until next month.