A GUARD of honour was held at a funeral for a 31-year-old St John Ambulance volunteer.

St John volunteers from the Braintree branch lined the road to the Three Counties Crematorium for the funeral of Emma Cooper, on Wednesday.

Mrs Cooper, of Braintree, died two weeks ago of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot on her lung.

Her husband Ralph was joined by her parents Pat and Glyn Robinson, with other friends and family.

Derek Holmes, of Daniel Robinson and Son Funeral Directors, said the service, which attracted about 170 people, went very well.

The Rev Peter Cutmore paid tribute to the much loved young woman who was always thinking of others.

Mourners then went to Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall, where they were joined by Mr and Mrs Cooper’s 18-month-old son Thomas.