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Leah Croucher: Mourners line streets for funeral in Milton Keynes

Mousumi Bakshi/BBC A horse drawn hearse leaves carrying the body of Leah Croucher. The horses are draped in a Harry Potter, Gryffindor banner with Leah's name on it.Mousumi Bakshi/BBC
Leah Croucher's coffin was pulled by a horse drawn carriage through the streets of Milton Keynes

Mourners cried as they lined the streets to pay their respects to teenager Leah Croucher.

The 19-year-old's body was found in the loft of a house in Milton Keynes in October. It is thought she was killed by a sex offender who has since died.

Her funeral cortege left Emerson Valley at about 10:50 GMT and headed through Furzton, Shenley Brook End, Shenley Church End and Grange Farm.

A private service has been held at Crownhill Crematorium.

Her family had welcomed people to line the route of the cortege, which was about 3.5 miles (5.6km) long.

Floral tributes featuring her name were laid next to the coffin in the hearse, which was accompanied by a basket with stuffed toys.

PA Media Members of the public line the street as Leah Croucher's hearse passes through on it's way to Crownhill CrematoriumPA Media
Members of the public have lined the street to pay their respects to the teenager

The horses that pulled the hearse were draped in flags bearing the crest of Gryffindor House from the Harry Potter franchise.

Other mourners were seen wearing red and gold scarves - the colours of the house in the books and films.

Crowds who lined the route, some in tears, were thanked by the undertaker for turning out despite the rain.

Others held heart-shaped balloons reading "fly high" and "reach for the skies".

PA Media Mourners hold pink balloons on the street as they wait for Ms Croucher's funeral cortege to passPA Media
Some mourners cried and others held balloons as they paid respects to Ms Croucher
South Beds News Agency Leah CroucherSouth Beds News Agency
Leah Croucher's family will hold a private funeral for the teenager, more than four years after she went missing

The Church of the Servant King opened its doors for members of the community to remember Ms Croucher.

Rev Mike Morris said his "thoughts and prayers" were with Ms Croucher's family "at this heart-breaking time".

Police searched a house in Furzton last year following a tip-off and discovered Ms Croucher's remains, a rucksack and other items belonging to her.

Neil Maxwell, a convicted sex offender who was found dead two months after Ms Croucher's disappearance, remains the only suspect in the case.

Ms Croucher was last seen walking to work on 15 February 2019.

PA Media Leah Croucher's parents Claire and John Croucher watch as her funeral cortege prepares to leavePA Media
Leah's parents, Claire and John Croucher, welcomed people to stand along the cortege route
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