Ariana Grande superfan killed in Manchester bombing is laid to rest in coffin covered in pictures of tragic teen carried by her devastated dad
TRAGIC Manchester bomb blast victim Georgina Callander was laid to rest today in a coffin covered in pictures of the smiling teen.
The 18-year-old Ariana Grande superfan was remembered by hundreds of devastated mourners including her heartbroken mum Lesley, dad Simon, who carried the coffin, and her brothers Daniel and Harry.
The 18-year-old was among 22 people who were killed when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a nail bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester last month.
She was said to be a huge fan of 23-year-old Grande and was pictured with her in 2015.
Mum Lesley wore a yellow dress - Georgina's favourite colour - and sunflowers on her wrist as she laid a red rose for Georgina in Tarleton, Lancs, this afternoon.
Georgina's dad Simon, who has previously spoken of his guilt at not being there when his daughter died, wore a yellow flower on his shirt as he wiped away tears.
The heartbroken pair had a quiet moment of reflection as they looked at flowers left by mourners.
The 18-year-old's coffin was carried in a horse and carriage with a Beauty And The Beast towel draped over the white horses.
The procession looked colourful in yellow as they made their way through the tragic teen's hometown to a service at Holy Trinity Church.
Pictures of Georgina as a beaming child adorned the coffin as it was carried through a floral archway by her dad into the service.
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Georgina was the first victim named after the explosion tore through crowds at Manchester Arena on May 22.
The teen had tragically written to Grande a day before the blast saying: "SO EXCITED TO SEE U TOMORROW”.
Georgina, who was photographed with Ariana Grande when they met almost two years ago, was described as a girl who “lit up the room”.
Mourners today clutched an order of service calling the funeral a "celebration of life".
It featured photos of Georgina and a picture of the rose from Disney film Beauty And The Beast.
On the back of the booklet was the iconic picture of Georgina with her hero Ariana.
It read: "When you wish upon a star... your dreams come true".
Twenty-two people died in the terrorist attack, with more than 100 others injured.
Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Michelle Kiss, Jane Tweddle-Taylor, 50, Nell Jones, 14, Martyn Hett, 29, and Angelika and Marcin Klis, 40 and 42, are the latest victims confirmed dead after warped killer Salman Abedi detonated his bomb as fans left the gig.
Saffie Rose Roussos, 8, Chloe Rutherford, 17 and Liam Curry, 19, John Atkinson, 26, Kelly Brewster, 32, Alison Howe, 44, Lisa Lees, 43 and Olivia Campbell, 15, have also been named as victims who lost their lives.
Teenage sweethearts Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford were also laid to rest today in a joint funeral in South Shields, South Tyneside, while little Saffie's funeral was held at the same church as Georgina's last month.
Addressing the droves of villagers, who were both inside and listening outside the church from a speaker, Bishop John Goddard said: "We continue to be shocked by the actions of this hatred and corruption by this young man and that caused so much destruction.
"This was a heinous act which put shattering grief on the families of both Saffie and Georgina."
Daniel Callander, Georgina's brother, paid tribute to his "annoying little sister", saying: "Georgina was the kindest person you will have ever met.
"The media have described my sister Georgina in many ways, but she will always be known as mummy's little girl.
";I loved having a little geeky sister to talk about comics with."
Hundreds of mourners also lined the streets earlier for 28-year-old John Atkinson, who also died in the blast.
The service took place at St Thomas & St John’s Church in Radcliffe and his coffin was also covered in photos of him with friends and family.
Many mourners wore colourful clothing with t-shirts that had Manchester bees tattooed on them.