HUNDREDS of people turned out this week for the funeral of tragic little Lauren Marsh from Wordsley who lost her brave fight for life.

The four-year-old, who had battled against cerebral palsy, epilepsy and heart and lung problems since birth, passed away peacefully at Acorns Childrens Hospice on July 2.

Her heartbroken parents Angela Claridge and Scott Marsh, of Fairfield Road, said their last goodbyes to their little “princess” at her funeral on Tuesday July 15.

A white horse-drawn carriage slowed traffic on the way to St Mark’s Church, Pensnett, where just a few years earlier Lauren was christened, and three white doves were released after the service.

Devastated mum Angela this week paid tribute to her “miracle” daughter.

She told the News: “She fought from the beginning right to the end.

“Everybody loved her - and every time she gave me a smile she made me smile and she warmed my heart.”

She said Lauren, a pupil at Bromley-Pensnett’s pre-school assessment unit, had battled bravely against her disabilities since birth - and had been making good progress at one stage.

Angela remembers: “She developed and she was like a normal toddler, she knew everything and she smiled all the time...it was wonderful - we’d had our miracle.”

But after one of many operations to help make the youngster more comfortable, Lauren’s condition deteriorated.

The strong-willed tot continued to fight against the odds, battling against a series of chest infections and suffering further brain damage after she stopped breathing at one point.

But the gutsy little girl hung on to the last.

Angela said: “She fought and fought and fought.”

And she told the News of her heartwrenching last moments - and how her little Lauren had opened her eyes for the last time just as a relative’s mobile phone rang, playing the Mariah Carey song Bye Bye.

Angela said: “She’d had that much sedation it would have been almost impossible for her to open her eyes, but she opened them to this song and looked up - and it was as though she was looking for me or her dad.

“I was upstairs at the time - there were about 18 to 20 family members with Lauren - and they came to fetch me, and I ran as quickly as I could, and I held her in my arms as she passed away. She’d waited for me to take her last breath. She wouldn’t go without me.”

Angela continued: “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was bath her afterwards - to make her look pretty and dress her up like a princess.”

She also told how spookily later that night the family’s home was flooded due to a burst water main and how the kitchen at Acorns had also been hit by a flood the following day - adding: “Lauren loved water - so it was like she’d sent us a sign.”

Brave Angela said she couldn’t have coped with the tragedy without the support of Acorns Children’s Hospice in Selly Oak where Lauren spent her last days.

And she said she hopes one day to be able to give something back to the charity to say thankyou for the care and support they offered.

She said: “Lauren loved it there - I’d love to come back and volunteer.”

Angela and Scott, who also have a son Dean - aged 13, also praised staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Russells Hall for the way they cared for Lauren over the years - and everyone who gave money to help buy the youngster sensory toys following an appeal in the News in 2005.