Snapshots from a life cut short

The snap-shot of the pretty little girl is among new images of the murdered woman which were released yesterday by her grieving family as she was laid to rest.

In a poignant reminder of her childhood days, the 36-year-old's coffin was carried in a hearse drawn by horses to the church next to the primary school she had attended as a youngster.

Ms Blamires, who worked as a prostitute, was murdered with a crossbow by an alleged serial killer.

Her remains were found in the River Aire in Shipley, West Yorkshire, on May 25.

Mourners heard tributes to a "very clever, intelligent" woman who was said to have been a very skilled horserider and to have done work in the community. More than 100 people gathered at St Columba's Catholic Church in Bradford for a full requiem mass for the young woman, who had loved horses as a little girl.

A moving poem, written by Ms Blamires' family and read by her mother Nicky, told of how the pain and loss of losing Suzanne will live with them "forever more."

During the requiem mass Father Frank Smith, who led the service, paid tribute to Ms Blamires, who was described as "cheeky, full of confidence, outgoing." The priest said her father Norman, who died some years ago, had been "wrapped around her little finger".

Earlier, traffic had been brought to a standstill along the busy road near to the church in Tong Street by the funeral cortege. Led by the funeral director, who walked along the road, a hearse carrying floral tributes was followed by two outriders on grey Irish horses ahead of a glass hearse drawn by two black Friesian horses carrying Ms Blamires' coffin.

Decked with floral tributes, spelling out 'Sister' and 'Suzanne', the horse-drawn hearse came to a standstill outside the church.

Barely a sound could be heard other than the purring traffic and children playing in the nearby schoolyard as Ms Blamires' white coffin, adorned with pink and white flowers, was carried into the church by her brother, uncles and family friends.

A card attached to a white floral tribute spelling out Suzanne's name on top of the glass hearse read: "To a very special daughter, you were always my shining star, remember I love you, Mam xxx."

Another, said: "To Suzanne, rest in peace darling sister, I will love you for all eternity, love Luke."

Father Smith told the mourners: "Today is a day for Nicky and her family to find some peace and be allowed to grieve in private. As a parish we offer them our condolences, our prayers and our support in whatever way we can.

"To lose a child is one of the most difficult things anyone will have to deal with in their lives but though faith and the support of friends and family, this will hopefully be made a little bit easier for Suzanne's family."

The coffin was carried out of the church to the music of Angels by Robbie Williams before heading to Bowling Cemetery for a private burial.

Ms Blamires went missing from Bradford's red light district four days before her remains were discovered.

At the opening of the inquest into her death last month, Coroner Roger Whittaker said a post-mortem examination found the cause of her death to be serious injuries caused by a crossbow.

Criminology student Stephen Griffiths, 40, of Thornton Road, Bradford, is charged with murdering Ms Blamires.

He is also charged with the murder of two other women, Shelley Armitage, 31, and 43-year-old Susan Rushworth, who were also sex workers in the city.

He is due to appear in court again on October 15.

POEM TELLS OF PAIN AND LOSS

The mother of Suzanne Blamires has spoken of her unending "pain and

loss" and at the funeral yesterday, her mother, Nicky, read a poem written by her family to the congregation:

We thought we understood heartache.

It has landed on our door before.

But the pain and loss at losing you, Suzanne, will live with us forever more.

We are not gathered in a gloom- filled room.

There are no heads bowed low.

We are thinking about how much we love you,

And how hard it is to let you go.

You have taken the journey we all must take.

But we take comfort as we know you are reunited with your much-loved dad

And it is time to let you go.