The funeral of a seven-year-old girl who was killed in the Southport stabbing attacks has taken place on Merseyside.

The family of Elsie Dot Stancombe had asked the community to give their daughter “the best possible celebration”.

They described her as an “amazing little girl” and encouraged mourners to wear bright colours.

In an eulogy, read on behalf of her parents, she was described as bringing “light, love and joy to so many lives in her seven and a half years”.

“From the moment her parents knew of her existence she has brought them nothing but happiness and the life she has lived has been a true reflection of the love they have all shared together,” it added.

A horse-drawn carriage arrived at St John’s Church in Birkdale, near Southport, on Friday morning ahead of the service, which took place at 10:00 BST.

Her family walked behind the carriage in a procession from their home and mourners lined streets decorated with pink ribbons.

In a statement released by Elsie’s family earlier they said they would be celebrating her life “with positivity, hope and love”.

“‘We are the four best friends in the whole wide world’ – and that mantra will remain with us for the rest of our lives, sound in the knowledge that Elsie is here with us and forever will be in our hearts,” they said.

As well as those gathered in the church, others watched the service on screens at the church hall and Liverpool Road Methodist Church.

After the service, a funeral procession passed the site of floral tributes outside the Atkinson arts centre in Southport, with a tribute as part of the cortege from Royal Mail, where Elsie’s father, David, works.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and six-year-old Bebe King, were also killed in the attack. Their funerals took place earlier this month.