A heartbroken dad told of his daughter's infectious laugh and inspiring spirit as her family said a final goodbye.

Dean Giles paid an emotional tribute to his “happy little girl” as loved ones gathered for the funeral of five-year-old Eva this week.

The Herne Bay Infant pupil died on April 7 after a brave nine-month battle with a rare brain tumour.

She was taken on her final journey in a horse-drawn carriage to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church in Clarence Road, Herne Bay, where family and friends gathered, dressed in her favourite colours of purple, pink and yellow.

All Things Bright and Beautiful was sung by mourners, an appropriate choice for a girl who touched the hearts of many with her courage.

Dean, with wife Emma and two-year-old daughter Rosie by his side, fought back tears as he spoke of his daughter.

“Eva Mary Giles, our amazing, spirited, little girl came into this world in May 2011 with a bang and with no intention of sleeping,” he said.

“There weren’t many times in her short life she wasn’t a few feet away from Emma. There was a bond so strong.”

Eva was given just nine months to live when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in April last year.

It forms in a part of the brain stem known as the pons, controlling vital functions including walking and talking.

Dean, 38, told the congregation: “The way she dealt with her illness was inspiring. She spoke about her best friends at school and in the times we were at appointments and at the GP with her loss of mobility and the way she lost her body she would never complain, not once.

“She never gave up. She never let her illness define who she was.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. Goodbye our little princess. We will see you in heaven" - Dean Giles

“When I think of her the first thing that comes to my mind is her laugh. It was infectious, and when Eva was happy it was almost impossible not to be happy with her.”

Speaking of Eva, sister Rosie and brother Ewan, eight, he said: “They say that our children teach us about life, and what our three children have taught us is something special.

“Last week when Eva left our side something died inside us. I can’t even explain in words. I’d take all the pain in the universe. She will always be in our hearts. Her love is in our hearts. She was a happy little girl, so loved and so missed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. Goodbye our little princess. We will see you in heaven.”

Speaking at the service, Deacon Barry Walker said: “Your loss is beyond my power of description and the hole in your hearts won’t be filled by words of mine or anyone else’s.

“And yet words, and the presence by all of us here, and the assurance of sincere loving hearts – these are all we can offer you and I pray that these may help to see you through these dark days.

“It is perfectly human and it is perfectly normal that we ask why a family should be having to endure what Emma, Dean and their families are going through. But we only wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

Eva’s favourite song, Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots, echoed around the church as her butterfly-covered coffin was carried out.

The funeral was followed by a private committal at Herne Bay Cemetery and a wake at the Catholic Club.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Eva’s treatment raised more than £115,000.

Her family is now asking for donations to be made to Abbie’s Army, a children’s DIPG brain tumour research charity.

Cheques should be made out to Abbie’s Army through Beltinge and District Funeral Service in Reculver Road, who can be contacted on 01227 363300.

Alternatively, visit the online fundraising page here.