Hundreds of mourners have said their final farewells to a Bradford grandmother who was killed after she paid a minicab fare outside her home.

St Michael’s and All Angels Church in Halifax Road, Shelf, was yesterday packed with family and friends of Mary Byrne, a 51-year-old mother-of-four.

Her close family sobbed as they followed her coffin, covered in pink and cream blooms with a smiling framed picture of her on top, into the church.

The nursing home cook had been yards from her front door on Saturday, April 20, when the private hire car she had just paid for in Mandale Road, Horton Bank Top, was involved in a two-car collision which fatally injured her.

She had spent the afternoon celebrating a friend’s birthday before her tragic death.

Three men, aged 17, 19 and 21, were arrested after the incident, but have since been released on bail while the investigation continues.

Vicar Marion Gaskill began the service by describing Mrs Byrne, a grandmother of seven, as “a loving and dearly loved mum, a devoted nana, cherished daughter, treasured partner and a good friend to all those who knew her”.

Poignant messages were read out from two of her grandchildren, Jordan, ten, and Grace, seven. One of those messages said: “We hope she has a good time in heaven meeting new people.”

The youngsters also said they would always remember making pancakes with her on a Monday, how she would come up with different recipes, flip them and never get them stuck on the ceiling.

And the congregation heard how the last ten years of her life had brought her a new-found confidence, some of the most important moments and people into her life, her grandchildren who she would “show off” whenever possible and her partner and soulmate Alan, who she was due to move into a bungalow with this month after doing it up together.

She had discovered holidays abroad, shed one-and-a-half stone and bought a new wardrobe to suit her new figure. Her sense of humour was also remembered and so was her laughter, which would often give her jokes away.

“She was a kind, caring, determined, nosy, happy lady adored by us all,” said a tribute from her children, also read out for them by the vicar.

“She is our conscience, thought and inspiration,” it ended.

At the end of the service, the congregation stood as her coffin was carried out to Rhianna’s Shine Bright Like A Diamond.

They were invited to join the cortege on her final journey to rest at North Bierley Cemetery, Bradford.