Friends and relatives were united in grief at the funeral of a young mother who was killed in her home.

The small church of St Luke's in Stone Cross, near Eastbourne, close to where Saffra Coleman lived, was packed with her loved ones yesterday afternoon.

As the coffin was brought in to the sound of Tracy Chapman's song Fast Car, many mourners could not contain their grief.

Saffra, 21, was found dead at her house in Friday Street on Tuesday, May 21. She had injuries consistent with strangling.

Father Jonathan Graves said her death was "tragic, violent and without justification."

He begged people to remember Saffra as a wonderful mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend.

For Saffra's parents the funeral marked a double tragedy. Their son, Christian, died four years ago following a heroin overdose.

Fr Graves told the congregation how Saffra had never really come to terms with the death of her brother.

Her parents, two sisters and two other brothers sat at the front of the church and watched as people lit candles in her memory.

The family chose the hymns Seek Ye First and How Great Thou Art.

The coffin was led away to the song If Tomorrow Never Comes by Ronan Keating.

Saffra was buried next to her brother in Eastbourne Cemetery. She left behind her daughter, Layla, who was 20 months old when she died.

Steven Foster Gander, 26, of Linden Close, Eastbourne, is charged with Saffra's murder.