Extracts from a book about the life of a six-year-old who died from an incurable cancer were read out to mourners for the first time at her funeral.

Joules Smith, from Minster on Sheppey, came up with characters and helped design Joules, The Girl Who Loves To Dance as she battled the disease.

The children’s story, which is about the youngster’s life, got its first public airing when friends and family gathered to say goodbye to her.

Last May, Joules’ mum and dad, Elisha and Joe, received the worst news any parent can get when their daughter was diagnosed with midline glioma, an aggressive brain tumour, and given just months to live.

Since then, they had been doing all they could to make the most of the time they had left with their little girl by taking her on trips but also spreading awareness of childhood cancer on social media.

They started a trend on TikTok called Dance for Joules where users filmed themselves dancing and then uploaded the videos with messages to highlight the symptoms to look out for. Big-name celebrities and influencers, including Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity, joined in.

But, early last month, Joules’ courageous battle came to an end and she died peacefully in bed, cuddled between her parents.

Joe paid tribute to his “beautiful princess” and said: “We take so much comfort in knowing she inspired and touched the lives of so many people around the world, and that sounds insane to say that, but we reached everyone around the world with Dancing for Joules.

“We just hope this journey will be someone else’s guidebook one day.”

Joules was laid to rest during a ceremony at the Garden of England Crematorium in Bobbing, Sittingbourne, on December 27.

She had a pink coffin with Stich and Angel cartoon characters on it and was carried in a carriage flanked by six horses – one for every year she lived.

During the journey from her home, hundreds of people lined the streets to pay their respects.

Joe said: “Cars even stopped on the other side of the road. It was beautiful to see how loved she was.

“Her service was lovely. We had our dogs, Syd and Peach, and one of her barn owls, Aurora, to see her off, and even a big dress-up character of Stitch.”

At the ceremony, the family made a speech where they told everyone about the book before reading it out to them for the first time.

Joe said: “We hope parents can read it to their children and they will also know of our beautiful, brave dancing queen.”

Since its release, the book has already sold more than 4,000 copies around the world, including in Australia, New Zealand and America.

The story features characters Joules picked out which she named after her friends, and a front cover which features her name in a hand-written font she did herself.

The project was completed with help from author Sally Scott and illustrator Suzie Cooke.

Joe said he and Elisha were able to read the finished book to Joules before she died.

He said: “We are so incredibly proud.

“Because of her involvement, it just means the world to us and to see how quickly it is selling is just absolutely insane.

“Thank you to everyone for buying the book and supporting us this past year on this very cruel journey but now we’ve turned it into helping others who will sadly be facing the same nightmare.”

To pre-order Joules The Girl Who Loves To Dance, click here.

It costs £6 with all proceeds going to The Royal Marsden Hospital which had cared for Joules.