Schoolmates of a girl who died in a suicide pact with her childhood friend gathered at her funeral yesterday.

Pupils and staff from St Wilfrid's Catholic School in Crawley yesterday said their farewells to Elizabeth Gold.

Elizabeth, known as Tizzy to her family and Liz to her friends, died in a fume-filled car with friend Jennifer Prinn after a party in Crawley.

It is thought the two 17-year-olds were homesick and wanted to return to South Africa where they grew up together.

In a written tribute to his daughter, Campbell Gold, 49, said: "She loved her brother and sisters and was always there to lend a hand.

"At home Tizzy was a part of each of us and her parting has left an emptiness which can never be filled."

Mr Gold, a writer, moved with his family to a flat above a shopping parade in Broadfield Barton, Crawley, from South Africa three years ago.

Jennifer moved to Ireland a year later but longed to return to South Africa.

While she was visiting Elizabeth in England the pair decided to commit suicide in a car belonging to the parents of their 17-year-old friend Andrew Sutton.

Their bodies were found slumped in the car in the garage of his home in Mayfield, Pound Hill, on December 10.

Elizabeth had left behind wrapped presents for her parents, brothers and sisters under the family Christmas tree.

In his tribute, Mr Gold told how his daughter had seen their move to the UK as a great adventure.

As an air cadet she had travelled, hiked and skied. He said: "It was then she fell in love with Scotland's magic so it came as no surprise that she had some Scottish universities on her shortlist.

"She always threw herself into everything that she did with vigour and enthusiasm."

In the memorial service at her school, described by her father as Elizabeth's "second home", pupils and teachers heard bible readings, tributes and sang Psalms.

A private cremation service was held earlier in the day.