The funeral of 10-year-old girl who was fatally struck by a car on a football pitch is under way.

Poppy Atkinson was taking part in a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club, in Cumbria, on 5 March when she was hit by a car.

People lined the street as her funeral cortege passed by, and her primary school – Old Hutton Church of England school in Kendal – has closed for the day.

A spokesperson said: “We hope that this will enable as many people as possible to pay their respects to Poppy and to be there to help support her family and friends, all of whom remain in our prayers at this time.”

Poppy’s family described her as a “force of nature” whose “passion for football was infectious”.

She played for Kendal United’s U12 girls team and Morecambe girls and was a huge fan of footballers Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Kobbie Mainoo.

People were invited to line the pavements to create “a sea of love”, as the cortege made its way to Kendal Parish Church.

They were also asked to wear red or a football shirt to reflect Poppy’s dream of one day playing for Manchester United.

Earlier, the family thanked the local community and “strangers afar” for their love and support.

Poppy’s school said it was considering how to honour her memory.

“As a school community we all remain heartbroken,” a school spokesperson said.

“Poppy’s tremendous footballing talent has been well documented in recent days and it may be that as a school community, we are able to do something in her memory which reflects this.

“We would want to ensure that whatever we chose to do in lasting memory of Poppy is what her family would want too and we would liaise with them thoroughly about any such memorial.”

A 40-year-old man from Lancaster was arrested at the time of the incident on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but has since been released while investigations continue.

At the time, police said there was “no indication to suggest that this incident was a deliberate act”.