AROUND 500 mourners packed out a Newport church yesterday to remember teenage mum-to-be Nikitta Grender and her unborn baby Kelsey-May.

Family and friends, all wearing something pink in memory of the 19-year-old, whose death is at the centre of a murder investigation, gathered for the service at St John’s Church in Maindee.

Dark clouds that had hung over Newport all morning, parted briefly to let the sun shine down on the church as the hearse carrying the teenager’s body arrived.

Distraught family and friends lined the streets as a single white coffin topped with white lillies and pink roses carrying both mother and daughter, was carried into the church headed by her tearful father Paul Brunnock and boyfriend Ryan Mayes.

Other pallbearers included her grandfather Terry and uncles Paul, Mark and Michael, who like other family members wore yellow roses - which were one of the teenager’s favourite flowers.

Reverend Helen Hall, who led yesterday’s service thanked all who turned out to show their support for the family of a “happy, lively young woman and her much loved and much wanted baby.”

She said: “Both Nikitta and Kelsey-May had everything to live for, there was so much that they could have done, and been and given.

“Their time on earth should not have been so cruelly cut short. We are here in the shadow of a terrible injustice and act of evil, and we cannot pretend otherwise.”

She continued: “In the meantime Keeta has left behind many footprints on Earth.

“I am sure that all of you will have your own personal memories to treasure.

“Nikitta's death cannot take away the things which she said and did, all that made her unique, or the ways in which she touched the hearts and lives of those who knew her.

“This service is a time to remember everything which was good and special about Keeta, to pay tribute to that, and to thank God for the gift which he gave to the world in creating her.”

The Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Rev Dominic Walker led prayers, which were followed by the hymns ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer’, led by Newport Male Choir.

Tributes were paid to the former Hartridge High School by her uncle Michael on behalf of her mum Marcia and dad Paul.

In it they described their daughter as a beautiful young woman who loved the limelight. It continued: “We're missing you Keet, even though you were a pain in the rear. You made us constantly laugh and cry. We love everything about you, sweetheart.

"You would have been a fantastic mum. Kelsey-May, our first granddaughter, we didn't have the chance to spend time with you, sweetheart. Only when you were kicking the heck out of your poor mum.

"Missy, we're missing your muddy footprints - muddy, toys and hairs everywhere.

"We're missing you all so much.

"They say love hurts and you'll miss it when it's gone. We never thought that could be true. It's killing us that you're gone, sweetheart.

"There will never, ever be a day when we don't think about you - we'll never stop thinking of you.

"We miss you and we love you, Nikitta. Rest in peace, sweetheart, and look after our granddaughter Kelsey-May and Missy.

“Good night, God bless and sweet dreams, sweetheart, love you.”

The former shop worker’s coffin was led from the church to the sound of the song 'Make you feel my love' by Adele. Only the chime of church bells broke the silence.

Family and friends sobbed and embraced each other as they spilled out into the road to watch the teenager take her final journey.