Hundreds expected at Aisling's funeral 

Source: NZPA

Soft toys and hundreds of flowers fill Ranui Baptist Church on Friday morning ahead of the funeral for Auckland toddler Aisling Symes.

Her body was found in a storm water drain in Henderson on Monday night after a week-long search.

Hundreds of people are expected at Friday morning's service.

Ranui Baptist Church Pastor Russell Watts says about one and a half truckloads of flowers have been donated to the Symes family over the past few days.

Watts says members of Aisling's family will speak at the service which will also feature music the toddler loved to dance to.

He says the service will end with Aisling taken out to 'Amazing Grace' on a low whistle, played by a man the family hasn't met but who wanted to help.

Watts says the level of practical, loving support had stunned the family and they were happy for the public to attend the funeral.

The church can hold 450 mourners, so the service will be relayed on big screens to mourners outside.

The public service is to be followed by a private cremation.

Aisling's casket will be covered by a New Zealand and Irish flags.