THREE hundred people took part in a silent vigil at the weekend near the scene of a road accident which cost the life of a little girl.

Friends, neighbours and classmates turned out to mourn six-year-old Leonie Shaw who was struck by a car on the Bishop Auckland bypass exactly a week earlier.

As they arrived, the wail of an ambulance disturbed the calm of the evening. The sound was a grim reminder of why they were there.

At the same time on the previous Saturday night, other emergency vehicles had sped to where gravely-injured Leonie lay in the road. She died a few hours later with her mother, Michelle Aldworth, by her side.

Michelle, her other two daughters, Jade, ten and three-year-old Emily were too upset to join the tribute and stayed at home with relatives.

Family friend Sharon Bell brought flowers for Leonie, known as Lollie, from her schoolfriends at St Andrew's Primary, and a message of gratitude from Michelle who, she said, was finding comfort in the community's support.

At precisely 8pm, Leonie's headteacher, David Hutchinson, opened the simple ceremony in the school playground. Fighting back tears, he led the crowd through the Lord's Prayer before asking for silence.

Men, women and children stood heads bowed, some crying and clinging together for comfort. A few paused on their way home to add to the bank of flowers and toys lining the road.

Earlier, the sight of these tributes had moved former Bishop Auckland footballers, arriving for the final game at the Kingsway ground, to organise a collection for Leonie's family.

A funeral service is being held at St Mary's Church, in Woodhouse Lane, tomorrow at 10am.

* Colin Meek, 34, and Emma Jane Lee, 21, from Salvin Street, Spennymoor, will appear before Sedgefield magistrates again today in connection with Leonie's death.