THE funeral of a little girl who inspired thousands of people to join the bone marrow register has taken place.

Southport schoolgirl Ella Wright helped give the chance of life to others waiting for precious transplants.

But tragically, her own bone marrow transplant was not a good enough match and she died eight months after undergoing the gruelling operation.

Schoolfriends of Ella released dozens of pink balloons around her coffin at the her funeral last Friday.

Mourners applauded as the balloons drifted into the air after the moving ceremony at Ainsdale Methodist Church.

Eight-year-old Ella died following complications from a bone marrow transplant she underwent in February.

In her short life she had been a champion of the Anthony Nolan Trust, helping to raise awareness of the bone marrow register.

Parents Sally and Damien and little brother Sam – who is also desperately in need of a transplant – led the mourners as the little girl’s pink coffin arrived at the church in a white horse-drawn carriage.

A hearse overflowing with floral tributes followed on.

She was carried in to High School Musical song Breaking Free and left the church to Butterfly Fly Away from the television show Hannah Montana.

Those attending were asked to wear pink in tribute to the little girl, and many obliged.

Her schoolfriends from Our Lady of Lourdes primary school sang as a choir during the emotional service and penned a group poem which was read out.

They tagged handwritten messages to Ella on their pink balloons, many saying they would miss her smile and that they hoped she would have fun in heaven.

Rev Martin Abrams, who led the service and had known Ella all her life, told the congregation: “There were two very distinct parts to her life – the private, family, little girl and the public profile that she had that bought so much to so many.”