A FUNERAL has been held for a woman who fell to her death from cliffs last year.

Police could not identify the middle-aged woman after her badly decomposed body was found near Birling Gap.

An artist’s impression of her face was issued in a bid to trace her relatives, as well as a picture of a necklace she was wearing.

But no family or friends came forward.

About 150 mourners attended the service in Hailsham yesterday, organised by Rother and Wealden District Council.

Sarah Taylor volunteered to produce an order of service and memorial book, organised the wake and helped publicise the funeral.

She said she had received messages of support and encouragement from around the world as the mystery spread across the internet.

Mrs Taylor, 42, said she thought the woman deserved the same respect in death as anybody else.

"More people kept coming back to me," she said.

"I wanted to have a service not just reflecting she was unknown, but she was something to somebody.

"A mother, a daughter, a sister."

The mother of two added: "Sometimes those links back to family aren’t there the way they used to be.

"To know that somebody who nobody knows was ending her days with nobody at her funeral, I thought somebody had to do something.

"We sang Hallelujah and read poetry.

"From there, we’re going back to a wake in Hailsham where there are cards left for people to write either to the lady or just anything.

"It's all going into a memorial book.

"The flowers are going to be pressed in the book and left with the police and her necklace in the hope that someday we may be able to find her family.

"We are taking the police release and translate it into as many languages as we can.

"Somebody somewhere, this will mean something to them.

"It’s not for us to judge, we just want provide the love and care that the lady deserved.

"We don’t know if she jumped or if she was put there.

"It’s wrong for us to think what could have happened, it’s what we can do that makes a difference."

Mrs Taylor said she has had messages of support from around the world.

"One woman in America who said she couldn't make it over, even had her own funeral service."

The service was devised and performed by a celebrant, Martin Ellis.

Among the messages left for the mystery woman was one from the man who found her.

Peter Tooth wrote: "From the man who found you on the beach, may you rest in peace."

Police said the severely degraded corpse washed up near Birling Gap in July 2017.

Police believe she was middle aged with shoulder-length reddish brown hair.

Hastings Coroner’s Court heard the body had been in the sea for several days and was seriously decomposed.

Fingerprints, DNA, and dental examination have all failed in the effort to identify the woman.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze said: "I hope in the future she might be identified."