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April Jones: Hundreds expected at Machynlleth funeral April Jones: Hundreds expected at Machynlleth funeral
(about 1 hour later)
The funeral of murdered five-year-old April Jones will take place in her home town of Machynlleth in Powys later.The funeral of murdered five-year-old April Jones will take place in her home town of Machynlleth in Powys later.
The small market town will join April's family in paying their last respects to the little girl who went missing as she played near her home almost a year ago.The small market town will join April's family in paying their last respects to the little girl who went missing as she played near her home almost a year ago.
Donations made at the service will be used to sponsor a five-year-old girl in Africa, the town's vicar has said.Donations made at the service will be used to sponsor a five-year-old girl in Africa, the town's vicar has said.
April was snatched and killed by 47-year-old Mark Bridger, who is serving a whole-life sentence for her murder.April was snatched and killed by 47-year-old Mark Bridger, who is serving a whole-life sentence for her murder.
April's coffin will be carried on a horse-drawn carriage from her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate to St Peter's Church in the town for the service at 12:00 BST.April's coffin will be carried on a horse-drawn carriage from her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate to St Peter's Church in the town for the service at 12:00 BST.
The carriage will be followed by cars carrying April's parents Coral and Paul and other members of their family.The carriage will be followed by cars carrying April's parents Coral and Paul and other members of their family.
Church officials said the funeral would be a service of hymns and prayers and there would be no eulogies.Church officials said the funeral would be a service of hymns and prayers and there would be no eulogies.
Hundreds of mourners are expected and have been asked by the family to wear pink, April's favourite colour, or other bright colours. Balloons will be released at the end of the service.Hundreds of mourners are expected and have been asked by the family to wear pink, April's favourite colour, or other bright colours. Balloons will be released at the end of the service.
Those who helped search for April last October are expected to attend, while Det Supt Andy John, the senior investigator in the murder inquiry, two family liaison officers and temporary Deputy Chief Constable Carl Langley will represent Dyfed-Powys Police.Those who helped search for April last October are expected to attend, while Det Supt Andy John, the senior investigator in the murder inquiry, two family liaison officers and temporary Deputy Chief Constable Carl Langley will represent Dyfed-Powys Police.
Members of the community are expected to be taking part in the service, including April's former head teacher Gwenfair Glyn.Members of the community are expected to be taking part in the service, including April's former head teacher Gwenfair Glyn.
'In memory'
April was abducted by Bridger while playing near her home in Machynlleth on 1 October last year, sparking the biggest missing person search in UK police history.April was abducted by Bridger while playing near her home in Machynlleth on 1 October last year, sparking the biggest missing person search in UK police history.
Bridger was jailed for life after being found guilty at Mold Crown Court in May following a month-long trial.Bridger was jailed for life after being found guilty at Mold Crown Court in May following a month-long trial.
He will never be released from prison.He will never be released from prison.
Despite one of the biggest search operations in police history, April's body has never been found but police recovered tiny fragments of bone at Bridger's home.Despite one of the biggest search operations in police history, April's body has never been found but police recovered tiny fragments of bone at Bridger's home.
The Reverend Kathleen Rogers, who is leading Thursday's funeral service, said donations would be used to sponsor a child in Uganda, via the charity World Vision.The Reverend Kathleen Rogers, who is leading Thursday's funeral service, said donations would be used to sponsor a child in Uganda, via the charity World Vision.
She said: "Paul and Coral have asked that donations from the service on Thursday go to sponsor a child. We are very, very grateful to them for doing that.She said: "Paul and Coral have asked that donations from the service on Thursday go to sponsor a child. We are very, very grateful to them for doing that.
"It is a little girl of five from Uganda and it's all done in memory of April.""It is a little girl of five from Uganda and it's all done in memory of April."
She said the girl would be sponsored until she completed her education.She said the girl would be sponsored until she completed her education.
"Other donations will be an extra gift for the girl, her family and her village to use as they need. The parish will receive regular updates and photographs about the girl as she grows up," she added."Other donations will be an extra gift for the girl, her family and her village to use as they need. The parish will receive regular updates and photographs about the girl as she grows up," she added.
Ms Rogers said April's parents, Coral and Paul Jones, had shown "immense dignity" throughout their ordeal and were "trying their best to cope". Sometimes they struggled with their loss but on other occasions they were "very, very strong", she said.Ms Rogers said April's parents, Coral and Paul Jones, had shown "immense dignity" throughout their ordeal and were "trying their best to cope". Sometimes they struggled with their loss but on other occasions they were "very, very strong", she said.
"It's important for the family especially that they have a chance to say their goodbyes properly," the vicar added."It's important for the family especially that they have a chance to say their goodbyes properly," the vicar added.
"It's hopefully a beginning of an ending, a beginning of an acceptance perhaps of this awful tragedy that has happened. Everybody needs that and more so perhaps in this case because it's been such a horrific case."It's hopefully a beginning of an ending, a beginning of an acceptance perhaps of this awful tragedy that has happened. Everybody needs that and more so perhaps in this case because it's been such a horrific case.
"The police didn't find April's body but following the inquest what we do have are some of her remains that we are able to bury.""The police didn't find April's body but following the inquest what we do have are some of her remains that we are able to bury."
Two poems will be read at the funeral both written by a local man at the time of April's disappearance and the search for her.Two poems will be read at the funeral both written by a local man at the time of April's disappearance and the search for her.
The first is called 'April' and will be read by Sian Calban, a teacher at April's school.The first is called 'April' and will be read by Sian Calban, a teacher at April's school.
The second poem is called 'An Autumn Night' and is being read by head teacher Gwenfair Glyn.The second poem is called 'An Autumn Night' and is being read by head teacher Gwenfair Glyn.
Meanwhile, a fund set up shortly after April's disappearance has raised more than £76,000 and will close on Monday, the day before the anniversary of her abduction.Meanwhile, a fund set up shortly after April's disappearance has raised more than £76,000 and will close on Monday, the day before the anniversary of her abduction.
The trustees of April's Fund are considering donating some of the money to her primary school and the search and rescue teams who helped look for her.The trustees of April's Fund are considering donating some of the money to her primary school and the search and rescue teams who helped look for her.