MOURNERS gathered today to say their final goodbyes to a teenage girl who was killed earlier this year.Around 100 family and friends of Louise Evans, 18, attended her funeral at St Thomas’ Church, Barrowford.

The congregation wore pink and purple, Louise’s favourite colours, at the request of her adoptive parents, Lorraine and Jeff Evans.

And her coffin was carried into the church draped in a decorative purple cloth, while pink and purple flower bulbs were handed to mourners to plant to remind them of Louise.

Louise was found with multiple stab wounds in Towneley Park on July 21.

The service began with a bible reading before her dad paid tribute to the former Park High School, in Colne, and Haslingden High School pupil.

He described Louise as “independent, feisty and funny”.

He said: “Some people suggest Louise had a tough and difficult life, but that is not true.

"When she was with us we had manny happy times and she was very happy.”

Mr Evans finished the eulogy by telling Louise: “we loved you yesterday, we love you today, we will love you tomorrow, we will always love you.”

Her mum Lorraine read a poem that the family had found when sorting through Louise’s things which talked about how it was hard for her to understand others, and hard for people to understand her, and how she often wished that she was not here at all.

Mrs Evans struggled to hold back the tears as she read the poem and was comforted by her husband as she finished the reading.

The family had urged mourners to use the service to remember the good times in Louise’s life, but school friends struggled to hold back their tears during the service.

Reverend John Hallows, who led the service, said: “While this is a celebration of Louise’s life, we should not forget that she has been taken from us early.”

After the service mourners attended Burnley Crematorium where Louise was laid to rest.

l Two men, aged 18 and 21, from Burnley, are awaiting trial accused of Louise’s murder.