Funeral plan a year after April’s murder

The devastated parents of murdered April Jones are finally able to plan a funeral for their daughter, almost 12 months after the schoolgirl was murdered.

April, 5, was snatched by Mark Bridger outside her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, on Oct 1 last year.

The paedophile, 47, is serving a whole life sentence for killing the youngster.

Despite one of the biggest search operations in police history, April’s body has never been found. When being questioned by police and during his trial, Bridger repeatedly claimed he could not remember what he had done with her.

April’s parents Coral and Paul hope that an inquest hearing next week will enable them to finally lay what remains of their daughter to rest.

A court has previously heard that fragments of a child’s skull were found in the ashes of Bridger’s fireplace at his home in Ceinws.

It is believed they will be placed in a pink coffin, which will be taken through her home town on a horse-drawn carriage. Her mother Coral, 41, said: “They are all we have. We can now finally lay April to rest.

“Our hell this past year has been made worse because we did not have April’s body.”

It is hoped the opening of April’s inquest on Monday will see an interim death certificate issued — a process which will allow her parents to properly plan her funeral.

Although no details have been officially confirmed, reports say mourners will be asked to wear pink, which was April’s favourite colour.