JUST before 2pm today the black clouds separated and a shaft of sunshine burst through the stained glass windows of St John's Church, Devizes as a packed congregation waited to celebrate the life of Karly Heweson.

The poignant moment aptly captured the memory of the young woman who was a free spirit, loved to make people laugh and was the life and soul of any party.

People dressed in yellow and carried sun flowers to remember Karly, who lived for just 21 years but left a huge impression on everyone she met.

Karly died on August 27 when a car she was travelling in crashed at Prison Bridge, Devizes. But on Friday those who gathered wanted to remember all the good times they had shared with the girl who was a wonderful mother to little JJ, beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend.

A hearse drawn by horses adorned with sunflowers spelling out her name and Mumma brought her white coffin to the church where Somewhere Over The Rainbow was played.

The Rev Canon Paul Richardson spoke of the shock and sadness felt by everyone who knew Karly but he also brought laughter to the church when he mentioned her love of takeaways and refusal to walk anywhere.

Her brother Robbie and friend Ella bravely remembered a girl who meant everything to them and always made their worlds a better place to be.

The songs Angel and Fields Of Gold sung beautifully by Theresa and Jemma before The Rev Richardson led prayers and Alan Woods did a reading of When I Am Gone.

People stood in silence to have their thoughts and memories of Karly, who grew up in Devizes went to Wansdyke School, Devizes School, Melksham Oaks and Swindon College and worked at both Noah's Ark and Sixpenny nurseries.

Later the horse drawn carriage carried Karly's coffin to Devizes Cemetery for a private burial services. Funeral directors AP McDonald have organised a collection in memory of Karly for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The order of service contained a picture of sunflowers with the message: "You are life itself. Wild and free. Wonderfully chaotic and perfectly put together." There were also sunflower seeds for people to plant in Karly's memory.