Jade Goody's funeral cortege is wound its way through the streets of London as travelled on her final journey to Essex where her funeral is being held today.The 21-car procession first stopped in Bermondsey where the mum-of-two grew up.
The crowds that had gathered clapped and cheered as she passed in her white coffin and, recalling scenes from Princess Diana's funeral, threw flowers over the vintage Rolls Royce hearse.
In tribute to the cancer-striken Big Brother star's life, a single white dove was released at Bermondsey market where Jade's grandfather had a stall. After a formal prayer the crowd was asked to give up three cheers for her life and proudly remembered Jade as 'a true Bermondsey girl' and 'a great mother'.
Jade's sons Bobby and Freddie are not expected to attend today's funeral. They are believed to have gone to Australia with their father Jeff Brazier.
Flowers decorating the hearse read 'Jade from Bermondsey' and...
...many of the other wreaths made reference to her most comic moments. 'East Angular' and 'Minging' were among the arrangements as wells as a newspaper, a perfume bottle and a jar of marmite, because Jade was a character people either loved or hated.
Her simple white coffin was brought out of the funeral director's at 8.20am and instantly surrounded by photographers. As early as 6.30am there were crowds of mourners coming together in Bermondsey. Thousands lined the streets of London to say goodbye to the brave public figure.
Hundreds are expected to pack St John The Baptist Church in Essex for the funeral. Some people slept on nearby pavements to ensure they could watch the service.
Flowers were placed outside the funeral directors with warm tributes to the fiesty celebrity legend.
A staff member at F A Albin said that they had "never known anything like it, not in 20 years".
A small crowd began to form outside the funeral directors to ensure they got the best view.
The cortege traced the geography of Jade's life as it made its way to St John The baptist Church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
It travelled through Bermondsey, stopping at The Blue Market where Jade's grandfather had a stall.
It then wound its way up to Wolseley Street and around the Dickens Estate stopping in Jacob Street where Jade grew up.
The Mayor of Southwark, the leader of Southwark Council and Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey paid their respects as the funeral cortege passed through the area.
Funeral director Barry Albin-Dyer said: "Bermondsey is very kind to its dead. What's happening with Jade here isn't uncommon to Bermondsey people.
"They all come out to wish people well as they go."
Rev Hartley said Jade went to the local church school and Sunday school.
He said: "I've spoken to lots and lots of people who knew Jade and she was a local girl who made the best of life and of course at the end has been an inspiration to people.
"Several girls have said to me 'I've gone and had some tests done' because Jade said they should."
Mr Hartley said Jade appealed to ordinary girls.
He said: "I was watching the news before about when Michelle Obama went into the school in east London and wanted to be an inspiration and she said 'You've got a good school, you've got good brains, you can make a difference in the world'.
"Jade spoke to the girls who had dropped out of school or who had families young and she said 'There is a possibility, take your opportunities'.
"She was an inspiration and she was a local girl made good."
Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark, said: "Jade was a Bermondsey girl and the local response shows the strong sense of community that still exists in our part of London."
He added: "I will be happy to talk to the family about the best sort of memorial for Jade. My thoughts are something which reflects the tremendous amount of good Jade did in raising awareness among young women about cervical cancer would be appropriate.
"One idea could be the creation of a fund to support young people from London and Essex who want to train in raising awareness of healthy lifestyles."
The fleet of funeral procession cars - including Daimlers and a Bentley - made its way over Tower Bridge, through East London and on to her former home in Upshire, Essex.
The family - including Jade's mother Jackiey - were picked up in the Bentley car and proceeded to Loughton High Street, arriving at 11.30am.
Publicist Max Clifford, who represented Jade, said the funeral would be "a very Jade Goody event".
Jade died at home at the age of 27 on March 22 after losing a battle with cervical cancer.
Mr Clifford said he and her husband Jack Tweed, 21, would be among people paying tribute at the service.
"I'm sure it will be a very emotional celebration and tribute to a very special young lady," said Mr Clifford.
"I think Jade would want people to be laughing and crying and I'm sure they will be."
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