A FUNERAL was held for a seven-year-old girl who was killed by her mother's estranged partner.

Mary Shipstone was shot in the head by Yasser Alromisse in front of her house last month as she walked home from school.

The Northiam youngster’s funeral was held at St Mary's Church in her home village near Rye at 11am.

The girl’s mother, Lyndsey Shipstone, said: “It has been a month since our beautiful Mary was taken from us but the pain is still as fresh now as it was then.

“Mary was such a fun, bright, inquisitive little girl.

“Losing her so violently has left us in a state of trauma and grief. Her absence feels like a void that cannot be overcome.

“She was such a happy child and I hope the memory of her little smiling face will be what stays with everyone who knew her.

“She will never leave our thoughts but at the moment every day is a struggle for us as we try to come to terms with our grief.

“I would like to thanks my family and friends for all their support and the community for the way our neighbours have comforted us in our darkest hour.

“I will never forgot the kindness we have been shown over the last few weeks.”

She added that the family was struggling with the loss and wished to be left to grieve in peace.

The service yesterday was conducted by Rev Rod White and there was a tribute by Alison Barlow, Mary's music teacher.

There was also a reading of a poem for Mary written by Liz Butt, the founder of The Music Well. It read:

I heard your heartfelt song
Welling from your pain, your fear
The shadows darkening into light
A tale of flight.

I heard your youthful tune
Played out with delight
A child's celebration of life
Conquering the night.

I watched your hands drumming
Finding a rhythm of liveliness
Comforting, stable, sharing
Winning the fight.

Your music ripples out
In ever widening circles
To touch the hearts of many
The music of your life.

The service concluded with a private family committal in Beckley Churchyard.

The Mary Shipstone Memorial Fund set up in her honour to raise money for The Music Well charity, which offers music therapy to children who have suffered trauma, has already received donations of almost £5,000.

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/ejpqc8.