The funeral of Leeds University student Bethany Jones was held today at St Joseph’s Church in South Elmsall.

Paying their respects were other members of the hen party whose minibus collided with a lorry in April, resulting in the 18 year old’s death. Stefanie Firth, the bride to be, was also in attendance.

Some guests, now wheelchair bound and others on crutches, all wore pink, Bethany’s favourite colour, as a sign of respect for their friend. Hundreds came to say goodbye to Bethany whose coffin was strewn in pink roses. The streets of South Elmsall were lined with mourners, including Bethany’s old school choir who sang the procession into the church.

A charity has been set up in memory of the first year Nursing student to raise donations for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Bethany’s family have expressed their appreciation of the reaction from the public. Almost £1,2000 from the ‘Beth’s Angels’ fund has gone towards helping the other victims from the crash.

Maddy Keating