JADE GOODY - DATE OF THE LATE JADE GOODY'S FUNERAL CONFIRMED

DATE OF THE LATE JADE GOODY'S FUNERAL CONFIRMED

The funeral of reality television star Jade Goody, who died on Sunday, will be held on April 4th, it has been announced.

A funereal procession will depart from the former Big Brother contestant's home in Upshire, Essex at 12:00 GMT on Saturday April 14th, before a service at St John's Baptist Church in Buckhurst Hill.

The 27-year-old will then be buried at Epping Forest Burial Park in North Weald, it has been reported.

Goody died at her home at 03:14 GMT on Sunday following a long battle with cancer, with her mother Jackiey Budden and husband Jack Tweed at her side.

The reality TV star has been credited with raising the profile of cervical cancer throughout her struggle with the disease and hundreds of people have paid tribute to the mother-of-two at her home.

Television screens are to be placed outside the church to relay the funeral service to mourners outside and thousands of fans are expected to line the funeral route next month.

Goody's publicist Max Clifford said the service would be a "celebration" of her life.

The prime minister yesterday led tributes to the late reality star, who shot to stardom after appearing on the third series of Big Brother in 2002.

"I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Jade Goody's death," Gordon Brown said.

"She was a courageous woman both in life and death and the whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children."

He added: "She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer which will benefit thousands of women across the UK.

"Every death from cancer is a tragedy and my thoughts go out to her two sons, husband and family at this time."