A COMMUNITY united in grief to say farewell to three lost "angels" killed in the Hapton fire tragedy.

Young and old attended St John's Catholic Church, Padiham, for the funeral of the three Waddington sisters who died on February 6.

Three little white coffins were carried to the front of the church - Louise first, followed by Hayley then Gemma - as their former fellow pupils of Padiham County Primary School watched with tears rolling down their cheeks.

Earlier, on a cold, overcast day, the hearses slowly and silently drew to the church entrance. Walking behind was a 100-strong crowd of family and friends. As residents respectfully stood in the street, a young boy hugged his mother's leg.

The sisters' parents, Barry and Jayne, emerged slowly out of the fourth car. Jayne needed words of encouragement to take the few steps to the church gates. Barry supported her as she buried her head into his shoulder.

Inside there were not enough seats for the 300 mourners. Bunches of pink flowers, balloons, and school art-work by the sisters provided a backdrop to the coffins.

Father Peter Hopkinson, who took the service, said Barry and Jayne felt a sadness beyond words.

He said: "Their pain is great because the children are the light of their lives. Because they love them from deep within their heart, they will be loved and remembered forever.

"Words fail us but our concerns and our feelings are real and they are strong."

Throughout the service poetry was interspersed by pop songs from the girls' favourites - for Louise there was Kevin Little, for Hayley there was Busted and for Gemma there was the song 'Sandra Dee' from the film Grease. Robbie Williams' 'Angels' was also played.

Father Peter read a poem written by Hayley at school about what she would like for Christmas. It read: "Please stop wars because they are killing lots of people and children.

"Please get rid of diseases because they kill children's families so that children have nowhere to live.

"Please stop droughts because families want to grow crops."

Father Peter said: "Three simple requests. They are not what Hayley wanted, they are what Hayley wanted for others."

During the service Father Hopkinson described the girls as three special gifts of God. He said: "Our hearts go out to Barry and Jayne whose lives are touched by a sadness beyond words. By being here we are showing them that we care, that our concern is real and is rooted in our love for them."

Father Hopkinson said people's concern for the couple had also been shown in the flowers and messages left outside their charred home and by friends of Louise, 11, Hayley, 10, and Gemma, seven, who had sold some of their own toys to buy a gift for them. A family friend then read poems composed in tribute both to the girls and Jayne, praising her strength of character and bravery.

It ended: "She has known true glory for she is still their mother."

After the ceremony the family followed the three coffins as they were carried out of the church.

Each sister had a different flower arrangement on their coffin. Gemma's was a doll in a golden dress with pink ribbons in her hair, Hayley; a cream and brown rabbit and for Louise a blue dolphin.

Barry and Jayne hugged and thanked friends and family before the mourners walked down the hill to the church's cemetery where the three girls' bodies were lowered into the ground.

Jayne refused to look, again finding comfort in Barry's embrace. Pink and white rose petals were sprinkled onto the coffins, firstly by Barry and Jayne, and then by at least 15 children in their blue Padiham County Primary School sweaters.

Messages of sympathy on flowers came from Padiham Fire Station, Lancashire Ambulance Service, from Barry's employers Tiger and A1 Taxis and from staff and governors at the girls' school.

One message read: "Goodnight. God bless little angels, you will be forever in our thoughts."