Mother weeps for murdered schoolgirl

A mother sobs as she watches the coffin of her 12-year-old daughter, found strangled and stabbed at her uncle's home, carried into church.

Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of Tia Rigg at St James's Church, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and many wore pink, her favourite colour, including her mother Lynne, who had a pink scarf.

The Rev Simon Cook paid tribute to the schoolgirl, saying her "young life ended too soon".

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Dinner ladies from Albion High School in Salford, where Tia was a pupil, also paid their respects. The funeral was followed by a private family burial at Southern Cemetery in Chorlton. Twelve pink balloons were released at her graveside to mark each year of her life.

John Maden, 37, is charged with Tia's murder at his house in Cheetham Hill, on April 3. He is due to go on trial later this year.

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