ICE cream vans led the funeral procession of an 18-year-old teenager from Ross-on-Wye.

More than 150 people packed the church in the village of Walford to pay their respects to Lydia Cole who died on December 20 at her home in Coughton.

One of the three ice cream vans from M&M Ices pulled Lydia's coffin on a trailer as the van's music rang out.

Let Me Go by Gary Barlow was played as the family entered the church.

She was the loving daughter of Simeon and Sandra and a much loved sister to Hannah, Rachel and James. Lydia was a fun and caring aunty to Ellanor, Caitlyn and Jack.

Ellanor Llewellyn (aged seven) wrote and read out a poem called A Poem For Lydia which celebrated her aunty. Her sister, Caitlyn, aged five, introduced the poem.

A tribute was given by Richard Chinn and Angela Richardson who said she was a "beautiful young lady" who "knew how to live life to the full."

She became known as Deda as her brother James could not pronounce her name and this stuck throughout her life.

Lydia went to Walford playgroup and primary school before going to Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Richard said: "As a little girl Lydia was in her element being out with mum and dad and helping with the sheep or assisting dad working the 360 digger. She always insisted she had to drive."

Along with her siblings they loved going to Gran and Grandad Cole's and baking cakes and collecting logs, among other things.

Richard said at the age of 13 her seizures started. She was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital, Spire Little Aston Hospital in Birmingham and St Thomas' in London.

In July 2016 she had an operation which helped her seizures and there was a long term hope that they would stop altogether.

Her health didn't hold her back - Richard said: "Lydia was a determined young lady."

Her cheeky personality was evident in the tribute as Richard commented how her dad said a parting comment when leaving the house would be: "Got a tenner dad? If not, the £20 in your wallet will have to do."

Lydia worked at Oak House Nursery School in Brampton Abbotts. She studied childcare and achieved her level 2 last year. She was studying English at college to improve her grade to progress to level 3.

During her summers she worked with Scotty from M&M Ices in the ice cream van and perfected her art of making ice creams.

Lydia was part of the Ross-on-Wye Squadron, Air Training Corps (ATC), the Links Youth Fellowship in Monmouth and also worked at Pan Pizza in Ross.

She was a big fan of Ed Sheeran and his song, Perfect, was played as the mourners were invited to remember "this special young lady."

Her grandparents, Helen and Woody Cole from Michaelchurch Escley, thanked the numerous friends and neighbours who have contacted them to express their condolences. Simeon, Sandra and family also thanked the many wellwishers. They said it has helped during this difficult time.