The popular 13-year-old was found hanged in her bedroom on Hall Lane, on February 1.

Around 400 mourners, including many of her fellow pupils at All Hallows Catholic High School in Penwortham, crammed into St Mary's Church in Leyland on Thursday to say a final goodbye to Aimee.

Many were wearing school uniform and were comforted by their own parents.

After they had taken their seats in the church they watched a DVD showing pictures of the teenager's full but tragically short life, which had been prepared by her family.

Towards the end of the service her mother Vickie Parkinson read a poem that Aimee had written herself.

Aimee's 18-year-old sister Natashja then read a personal tribute and was followed by her father, Mark Critchley.

Speaking at a moving press conference in the wake of the tragedy Mr Critchley said: "Aimee was a wonderful spirit, she had a free spirit and a lot of human kindness. She was a person of grace and beauty and, in a world where often there is not a lot of grace and beauty left, she was a little shining light."

Father Ambrose Griffiths, who conducted the service at the church in Broadfield Drive, said a real effort was made to make it a celebration of Aimee's life.

"It was a very poignant funeral service to conduct because of Aimee's age," he said. "As you could imagine there was a lot of people there.
"The service went very well. It was a beautifully sunny day.

"It was really a celebration of her life. At the end of the service her coffin was carried out of the church and was followed by her friends and fellow pupils.

"Around 100 balloons were handed out and released into the cloudless sky.

"I led a remembrance for Aimee with the refrain 'We shall remember her'. It was very moving and the balloons were released after that."
Thousands of people have signed up to social networking sites to pay tribute to the tragic teenager.

Others have signed up to a group pledging to plant a tree in her memory.
One friend said: "Aimee you were so beautiful. You are with the angels now."

Another said: "Another angel, another bright star in the sky. May your family's pain ease knowing you are looking down on them."

The inquest date for the All Hallows Catholic High School pupil has now been confirmed.

It will be held at 2pm on April 14 at Preston Coroners Court.