Friends and family paid tribute to a beautiful and happy three-year-old girl who died after she became buried in sand on a family holiday.

The sun shone as mourners turned out to say goodbye to Abbie Livingstone-Nurse whose zest for life was celebrated during her funeral service yesterday.

The service was held at St Mary's Church in Goring, just a short distance from her family home.

Mourners heard reflections about an "enchanting child" and "beautiful girl" who "made this troubled world a wonderful place to be".

Abbie had lived in Goring Road with her brother Joe, five, mother Pippa Livingstone and step-father Ian Sayer.

She died almost two weeks ago on holiday in Hayle, Cornwall, when the walls of the hole in the sand she was playing in fell on top of her.

Despite the best efforts of Mr Sayer, lifeguards, members of the public and emergency services, Abbie could not be pulled out in time.

Yesterday St Mary's Church overflowed with more than 150 relatives and friends.

Some wore pink clothing in memory of Abbie, while others had pink carnations or carried pink balloons.

As they arrived mourners were handed a lilac-coloured order of service bearing a striking photograph of the youngster whose short life ended on Sunday, August 14.

The funeral car that carried Abbie's tiny white coffin was full of pink and white flowers. One card said: "Of our beloved Abbie-doodle-do with many happy memories - your beloved grandad and nanny-noodle".

During the ceremony, the congregation heard from Mr Sayer, 40, a teacher.

There was also a reading of the words of Abbie's mum, who had written: "Abbie was the most beautiful girl I have ever known and I would tell her so a dozen times a day. She had such a zest for life and was such fun to be with.

"She was so funny and daring and could charm the socks off anyone she met and often would, whether it was in the bank, the supermarket or just walking down the street. People would often tell me what a beautiful, happy child she was."

Mrs Livingstone, 33, remembered Abbie dancing with Joe to songs from Disney film The Little Mermaid. The siblings were best friends and, when asked if he had any happy memories of Abbie, Joe told his mum: "about one thousand".

These included climbing Hay Tor rock in Devon, where the family had been a couple of days before Abbie's tragic accident.

On the morning of the day she died, Abbie had comforted Joe after he fell over and had asked if he was all right.

Joe's mum said: "He said he would miss playing and laughing with her as she was his best friend."

"I shall miss the constant laughter in the house from the pair of them.

"The house seems so terribly quiet without her and our family now feels incomplete. I am so very, very proud to have been her mother if only for a short time."

The Reverend Andrew Tremlett, conducting yesterday's service, said he had been touched by the description by grandparents Yvonne and Peter Sturton, whom Abbie knew as Nanny and Grandad Noodle.

Two weeks before her death the couple had taken Abbie and Joe to the zoo.

They said: "Abbie made this troubled world a wonderful place to be.

"She was an enchanting child who would brighten all of our lives with her great sense of fun and laughter. We will all miss her dreadfully."

Abbie's father Fraser Nurse, 34, who lives in Tangmere, has previously said that Abbie was a "wonderful daughter".

His parents Harvey and Julie Nurse, of Arundel Drive, Wick, near Littlehampton, have said: "It's just so sad."

In a statement after the service, Mr Tremlett said: "This is the worst kind of tragedy any parent can imagine. Our hearts go out to the family and we will be remembering little Abbie in our prayers in the coming days."

Mourners left the church to the sound of Somewhere Over The Rainbow from The Wizard Of Oz.

Abbie was buried at Durrington Cemetery, near Worthing.

Her death has been described by Devon and Cornwall Police as a tragic accident.

She and Joe had been playing in a 5ft deep pit, digging a tunnel at the bottom, when the wet sand caved in.

After Abbie's death the family and lifeguards returned to hold a silent vigil at the spot.

Abbie's funeral car contained a bouquet of flowers from the police who helped her family after the tragedy.

The card said was from "Mike, Bob and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary". It said: "Our thoughts are with you today and always."

A memorial fund is raising money in Abbie's name to pay for a bench on the beach where she died.

The rest of the money will be given to the air ambulance in Cornwall, which joined the attempt to save her. Send cheques payable to HD Tribe Limited to 259 Goring Road, Goring, West Sussex, BN12 4PA.