FAMILY and friends will wear purple, pink and blue today at the funeral of a lovely, kind and brave 14-year-old Barrow teenager who lost her fight against leukemia.

A service to celebrate the life of Rowan Canfield takes place at St James Church, in Blake Street, Barrow, at noon today.

Rowan, of Barrow, passed away on April 15 after a five-month battle against acute myeloid leukaemia.

The Furness Academy pupil had been a patient at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Rowan was the precious daughter of Catherine and Wayne Laver and the much-loved eldest sister of six children.

The popular teenager was a clarinetist and she played in Furness Academy's Classics Academy group. Her fellow Classics Academy musicians are performing at her funeral.    

Other pupils and staff from the academy are also attending the service, as are staff from Rowan's primary school, St James' CE Junior School. 

Angela Rawlinson, the headteacher of St James' CE Junior School, Barrow, said: "Rowan was an absolute model pupil, a pleasure to teach and just a lovely girl.

"We will all miss her here at St James' very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rowan's family."