More than 1,000 mourners gathered for the funeral of murdered schoolteacher Jane Longhurst today.

Family, friends and colleagues packed St Peter's Chruch, Brighton, for the service of thanksgiving which began at 2pm.

The body of music teacher Miss Longhurst, 31, was carried into the church in a wicker coffin followed by her mother Liz, sister Sue Barnett, long-term partner Malcolm Sentance and dozens of relatives and friends.

In the congregation were former pupils of Miss Longhurst and Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, of Sussex police, who is leading the investigation into her death.

Jane, 31, disappeared from her home in Shaftesbury Road, Brighton, on March 14 and her burning body was discovered at an RSPB reserve at Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough, on April 19.

Graham Coutts, a 35-year-old part-time musician and salesman, of Waterloo Street, Hove, has been charged with Jane's murder and remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on August 1.