Hundreds of mourners have paid their respects to a 12-year-old girl who was stabbed following a Christmas lights switch-on.

       Ava White died last month after she was assaulted in Liverpool city centre.

       Photographs of the schoolgirl covered her coffin, which was brought to her funeral service at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in a white horse-drawn carriage on Thursday morning.

       Applause broke out from the congregation as the pall-bearers carried the into the church, and again later when the short, emotional service ended.

       The coffin of Ava White was covered in photos of her (Danny Lawson/PA)

       (PA Wire)

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       Ava’s father Robert Martin, her mother Leanne White and her sister Mia were present, along with other family members.

       Her fellow pupils from Notre Dame Catholic College were also in attendance, as were some from her former school, Trinity RC Primary.

       Many of the several hundreds attending wore bright colours and some had hoodies bearing a photograph of the youngster.

       Officiating the service, the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon, said Ava was a “popular, loving young person” who he was told “would try anything once” and “did not fear anything”.

       Mourners arrive at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral for the funeral (Danny Lawson/PA)

       (PA Wire)

       She loved going on holiday, mixed martial arts, singing, dancing and making TikTok videos, he said.

       He said: “Ava was loved by so many people, undoubtedly heaven will be a happier place.”

       Following the service, he told reporters: “The tragic, heart-breaking loss of Ava White brought deep shock and sadness to everyone in the city.

       The Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon said the funeral had shows ‘the unity and love that we have in Liverpool for Ava and her family’ (Danny Lawson/PA)

       (PA Wire)

       “The turnout today at the cathedral shows the unity and love that we have in Liverpool for Ava and her family.

       “It was an incredibly moving and emotional funeral which was a fitting tribute to Ava.

       “We continue to pray for Ava, her family, her friends, her teachers and her community.”

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       Notre Dame headteacher Peter Duffy gave a reading during the service, while hymns sang were Do Not Be Afraid, For I Have Redeemed You and Amazing Grace.

       A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murdering Ava on November 25 and will next appear in court in February.