THE funeral of a 12-year-old girl, struck down by cancer just weeks before Christmas, will take place today (Thursday).

Tia Llewellyn passed away on December 9, after her mum Sarah took the difficult decision to end her life support.

The youngster was suffering from alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma - a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.

Tia's funeral will take place at 11am today, at St Katharine and St Peter's Church, followed by interment at Milford Haven Cemetery.

Tia's family has asked that no children attend the church service, but are welcome to join them to release coloured balloons at the Royal British Legion Club afterwards.

Bright colours should be worn, with only black trousers.

Floral tributes should be left at Hamilton Court by 9am this morning.

The special send-off for Tia has been made possible thanks to donations from the public in the days before her death.

More than £11,000 was raised as part of the fundraising campaign - started by Tia's aunt Kerryanne Clayton - which had been intended to pay for specialist treatment.

The remaining money will be donated to Welsh children's cancer charity Latch, and children's charity Noah's Ark, both of whom supported Tia's family during her time at the Heath hospital in Cardiff.

Local singer Tamie French has paid tribute to Tia by recording a version of 'O Holy Night'.

Accompanied by pianist Jonathan Brewer, Tamie said she had been moved by the community's response to Tia's death.

"I got the feeling that Tia was a really strong young girl, so I wanted to give [the song] that power," said Tamie, from Milford Haven.

Tamie said performing the song was emotional and 'surreal'.

“When I was singing it, it was like I could feel something around me, but I didn’t exactly know what it was," she said.

“When we played back the video there were all these orbs.”

“I was like, there you go, Tia is there, she’s with us now.”