This couldn't be turned into a celebration of Jo's short life, the grief is still too raw

Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak, 33, who lived next door, has been charged with her murder and is to stand trial in October.

Yesterday family and friends gathered for her funeral at St Mark's Church in Ampfield, Hampshire. It is the church where she was christened, and the village where she grew up and where her parents, David and Theresa, still live.

Her wicker coffin, adorned with daffodils, small sunflowers and assorted other spring blooms, was carried into the church in front of her parents. Following behind were Miss Yeates's brother Chris, his partner Alla and their son. Greg Reardon, Miss Yeates's boyfriend, followed behind them.

After the 30-minute service, Miss Yeates's coffin was carried from the church to be taken for a private burial.

More than 50 floral tributes were placed outside the church, including those from friends, family members, Miss Yeates's employer BDP and Avon and Somerset Police.

A note on one read: "Our Dearest, Jo you will be with us always. Gran and Uncle Clive."

Another said: "Dear Jo, Your vivacious spirit and considerable presence will not be forgotten. I will miss your ever cheerful greetings. Until we meet again. Love Uncle Pete xxx".

The service was led by the vicar of Ampfield, the Rev Peter Gilks. Afterwards he said it had been a "quiet and reflective" service, attended by about 300 people.

"The family said they didn't want to make it a celebration, I think it's too early for that.

"There was a lot of people here, some who had taken great trouble to come here, and there was a very reverend and prayerful atmosphere," he said.

"There was a huge number of people here who were sat very quiet and that set the tone of the service. People were sharing their grief and offering their support to the family.It was quiet and reflective more than sombre."

He added: "There are things in Jo's life that give them great joy and the service was about helping with their sense of grief and loss because it's still very early days since her death."

Earlier, Joanna's former tutor, David Booth, of the University of Gloucestershire, said the community had been deeply saddened by the tragedy of Joanna's death.

He said: "Jo was one of those students who you can tell would be destined for great things and it almost goes without saying that she graduated at the end of her studies in July 2010 with a distinction from her postgraduate diploma.

"Her death is a huge loss to all, she was very well-liked and admired by her peers, she was a very gifted student and a high achiever in all she did."

The university is honouring Miss Yeates by giving an annual landscape design prize in her name, sponsored by BDP. A new photograph was also released of her taken in June 2010, showing her looking at a piece of work she produced for her post graduate diploma show.

Miss Yeates disappeared on Friday, 17 December after going for Christmas drinks with colleagues. Mr Reardon reported her missing after he returned to Bristol on 19 December following a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield. Her frozen body was found dumped on a verge in Longwood Lane, Failand, North Somerset.