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M53 bus crash victim Jessica Baker's funeral takes place

PA Media Coffin carried into church for the funeral of Jessica BakerPA Media
The coffin was topped with floral tributes to the 15-year-old

A funeral has been held for a 15-year-old girl who died in a school coach crash on a motorway.

Jessica Baker and driver Stephen Shrimpton, 40, were killed when the vehicle lost control on the M53 in Wirral on 29 September.

A large congregation filled St Theresa's Catholic Church in Blacon, Chester.

A video-link also relayed the service to the school next door for mourners who could not fit in the church.

The front of the order of service showed a graphic of a climber after Jessica represented the North West and Wales in climbing competitions across the UK.

It also featured photos of schoolgirl, including one of her as a baby and one holding a football.

Police handout Jessica BakerPolice handout
Jessica Baker was a keen rock-climber who had represented Wales in competitions

Her family walked behind the hearse carrying her coffin and floral tributes, including one spelling her name, as it arrived at the church.

The coach had been carrying more than 50 pupils from West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School when the crash happened at about 08:00 BST near Junction 5 at Hooton.

Four passengers were taken to hospital, with one 14-year-old suffering life-changing injuries.

Jessica's parents Sean and Sarah and sister Rebecca spoke at the service, while tributes were paid by West Kirby Grammar School where she was a pupil and her climbing club.

PA Media emergency services around the overturned coachPA Media
The coach overturned on the M53 during rush hour on 29 September

Her headteacher Simeon Clarke was among the mourners.

Hymns including Abide With Me and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer were sung and the poem She Is Gone was read.

Jessica's family have previously thanked people for their kindness and have set up an online memorial page for memories of Jessica to be shared.

Tributes at the time described the teenager, of Chester, as a "warm-hearted, wonderful daughter, granddaughter and niece, devoted sister and loyal friend".

An inquest which opened earlier this month heard driver Mr Shrimpton suffered an "event" at the wheel and was seen to "slump to the left" as the vehicle left the carriageway.

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