THE distraught parents of hit and run victim Rebecca Sawyer said a heartbreaking farewell to their daughter yesterday.

About 300 mourners packed into a tiny church to pay a last tribute to the six-year-old.

The red-haired youngster died and her sister, Kirsty, 20 months, was left fighting for her life when a stolen car driven by Ian Carr, 27, smashed into the family's Citroen Saxo on New Year's Eve.

They were being driven home by their father, Steven, 33, when the speeding Vauxhall Astra jumped a red light and ploughed into them.

Postal worker Mr Sawyer, bleeding from severe facial injuries, tried desperately to help the girls and was found staggering around the wreckage screaming: "Someone please help us."

His tribute to Rebecca was perhaps the most poignant of all.

On a spray of pink and white flowers he wrote the message: "Becs my little princess, I still tuck you up in bed and kiss you goodnight sweetheart, and I always will. So never forget your daddy loves you. Keep on singing and dancing. Watch over your sister, sweetheart. Love Daddy."

Another card, from both parents, read: "To Becca, you lit up the whole room when you smiled, you were always a happy go lucky little girl. We will never forget what a brave little girl you were. Night night. From Mummy and Daddy."

Teachers, police officers, nurses and postal staff were among mourners who lined the streets as the small white coffin arrived at St John's Church, Ashington, Northumberland.

The girls' mother, Sharon, 33, clung to her husband and both wept uncontrollably as the coffin was taken into the church, with a pallbearer walking in front carrying a picture of the youngster.

The Reverend David Palmer led the tributes, with Robbie Williams' song Angels ringing out as the mourners entered the church.

But the most moving moment of the service came during a time of reflection when a recording of Rebecca singing, made just weeks before her death, rang out in the church.

After the 25-minute service, Rebecca's favourite song, One Step Closer, by S Club Juniors, was played as her coffin was carried out to the cemetery just yards away.

The family had asked that donations were made to two hospitals, instead of flowers.

But tributes from the family included a pink and white teddy bear in chrysanthemums, and the name Becca in pink and white flowers from her mother and father.

Staff at Wansbeck Hospital, who treated the family after the crash, and officers who dealt with the case, were among those who paid their respects.

After burying their daughter Mr and Mrs Sawyer returned to Newcastle General Hospital, where Kirsty is slowly recovering from emergency surgery following the crash.

The family no longer faces the heartache of having to return to court after Carr, the driver of the stolen car, pleaded guilty to his crimes. He is awaiting sentence after admitting causing Rebecca's death by dangerous driving and a string of other motoring offences.

Carr had 89 previous convictions, including being jailed in 1990 after he crashed a stolen car and left his best friend Mark Wren, 16, to die by the side of the road.