More than 150 people gathered at the funeral of a marine biologist killed by a giant seal in the Antarctic.

Kirsty Brown, 28, drowned after being attacked by the powerful mammal while snorkelling in a bay in July.

Her coffin was carried by horse and carriage to the Church of Holy Innocence in Southwater, near Horsham, for the service yesterday.

The coffin was decorated with the flag of the British Antarctic Territory and bouquets of sunflowers and roses.

In the procession were Kirsty's parents, Tim and Judith, as well as friends and several members of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), with whom Kirsty was working when she died.

The coffin was carried into the church by pallbearers wearing BAS T-shirts.

Many at the service wore casual dress as requested by the family of Kirsty, known as Bang due to her bubbly personality.

During the service, led by the Reverend Philip Jones, Kirsty's brother Duncan read a tribute to the highly-qualified scientist, who was studying the impact of iceberg scouring on marine life when she was attacked.

He read out extracts from Ms Brown's emails home.

In them, she described living in the Antarctic as "like being in a magical dream world".

Her father Tim fought back tears as he spoke of her commitment to her job but also of her love of a good time.

He said: "Kirsty was having a fantastic time at the station and I'm sure she wouldn't want anyone to be put off working there.

"She will also be remembered for her love of a good party."

Before the service, her family issued a tribute, saying: "Kirsty was always the life and soul of any group she was with.

"She was small and bubbly with a wonderful, infectious grin and laugh.

"She was loved by so many as shown through the huge number of letters, cards and emails received from all over the world.

"It was a long-held dream of hers to go to the Antarctic and she was very happy to be there.

"One of her greatest attributes was her ability to look out for and look after others so she fitted in well with the tight-knit group down there.

Her enthusiasm was immense."

Kirsty, from Southwater, had been researching for the BAS at its Rothera Research Station for more than a year.

She was attacked on July 23 without warning while swimming.

Two other colleagues who were watching the shoreline partly witnessed the attack but did not see the seal approaching underwater.

Kirsty was pulled from the water but resuscitation attempts failed.

Her body arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Sunday after being released by the Falkland Islands coroner.

An inquest is due to be held in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, later this month or early next month.

Speaking after the service, Professor Chris Rapley, director of the BAS, said Kirsty was an integral part of the research station.

He said: "She will be missed enormously by the people at Rothera, not just for her work but for her sense of fun."

Her family have set up a charity in her memory that will fund a short-term project into the behaviour of leopard seals and a longer term geology project.

People wishing to make a donation to the charity should send cheques payable to the Kirsty Brown Fund at Swains, Marlpost Road, Southwater, RH13 9BY, or the British Antarctic Survey, Mandingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET.