THE funeral of a teenager who died following a car smash after being driven away from her foster carers' home will be held today.

Carry Ann Brown died in August after the car her father was driving crashed on the M6, south of Carlisle.

The 14-year-old was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, in Carlisle, where she died a few days later.

Her father Sean Brown, 35, was later charged with the murder and rape of his daughter.

Carry Ann, of Huntington Drive, Darwen, was described by her family as a lovely girl who would help anybody. Her grandmother Dorothy, 70, said: "She was a very pleasant girl, she always smiled a lot and had a good sense of humour.

"Her mother had a big car accident a few years ago and she helped her a lot, she kept her spirits up.

"She thought of other people and was very kind-hearted."

Carry Ann suffered life-threatening injuries in the car crash between junctions 41 and 42 of the M6 on August 14. Sean Brown suffered an arm injury as he collided with another vehicle and was also treated in the same hospital.

Carry Ann was on a life support machine in the hospital's intensive care unit for several days but it was switched off after an agreement with the hospital and family solicitors.

A service for Carry Ann will be held at St Teresa's RC Church, Blackburn, at 10.30am tomorrow, followed by burial at Pleasington Cemetery.

Her family has asked for family flowers only. Donations in memory of Carry Ann can be made to the Paediatric and Neurosurgery Department, Alder Hey Hospital, c/o Darwen Funeral Service, 59-61 Blackburn Road, Darwen.