Hordes of celebrities turned out to pay their respects to tragic TV personality PAULA YATES, whose funeral took place yesterday (23SEPT00).

The star's white coffin was covered with tiger lillies and next to it lay a posy of pink roses with the message, "Dear mummy. I love ya". It was signed by four-year-old HEAVENLY HIRAANI TIGER LILY, on behalf of Paula's other daughters FIFI, 17, Peaches, 10 and seven-year-old PIXIE.

The funeral was held at the CHURCH OF MARY MAGDALENE in the tiny village of Davington, Kent - the same church where Paula had blessed her marriage to ex-husband BOB GELDOF 14 years ago. Actor RUPERT EVERETT, model YASMIN LE BON and fashion designer JASPER CONRAN were among the mourners and U2 star BONO sang BLUE SKIES, accompanied by JOOLS HOLLAND on the piano.

Paula's mother, HELENE THORNTON, 63 - who had not spoken to her daughter for four years - also attended the funeral. It was the first time she had seen her granddaughter Tiger Lily. Paula was found dead in her home in Notting Hill, West London on 17 September (00) after downing a cocktail of drugs and alcohol.

(RGS/WNSMA/CPT)

Source: WENN