A talented young dancer described by her heartbroken mother as “beautiful inside and out” will make her final journey past the Hazlemere schools she attended on Monday ahead of her funeral.

Apryl Scorer, 16, tragically passed away on August 13 while on a special family trip to France, leaving her loved ones and friends devastated.

The teenager will be laid to rest on Monday, October 12, but the route to her funeral will take her past her former schools, Manor Farm and Sir William Ramsay (SWR), and Hazlemere Community Centre, where she danced regularly.

The route is set to be decorated with purple balloons and ribbons in her honour – and everyone who knew Apryl and wants to pay tribute to her is invited to line the streets.

Hundreds of people wanted to attend her funeral but Covid restrictions mean only 30 can go.

She will be leaving the bottom half of Marys Mead at around 1.15pm before heading to Rose Avenue, stopping at short while at SWR.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press, Apryl’s devastated mum Nikki paid tribute to her “special girl” and said he has been “overwhelmed” at the outpouring of support since she passed away.

She said: “She was a very special girl. She picked people up and gave them a cuddle when they needed it, she was always there for her friends in need. She was one of those kids that if you could pick one off the shelf, you would pick her.

“She was a very pretty girl, she was everyone’s best friend – I have had messages from all over the place about her.”

Nikki said her daughter wanted to be a counsellor, supporting people with mental health issues, and was a talented dancer who was into sport.

Apryl’s grandparents hired a caravan in the same part of the south France every year and the youngster had been visiting with her big sister ever since she was three, making numerous friends in the country too.

As a special treat for her 16th birthday, Apryl invited two friends with her on the family holiday in August – but towards the end of the holiday, tragedy struck.

Nikki said: “It was all going really, really well, and it was the penultimate night and she said she was going out with friends that she knew from France.

“She gave me a hug and left at around 11pm – three hours later she was unconscious and collapsed. We don’t know why.

“Because of her dancing, she was a very clean-living girl – she was the one who would hold her friends’ hair back when they were sick. She wasn’t a big party girl. Other mums would say to me she was like the mum of the group.

“It’s a big shock. She leaves behind her big sister and all of her family and friends.”

Nikki added that Apryl’s family have been “overwhelmed” by the support from Apryl’s many friends – and even total strangers who have got in touch and donated money.

A GoFundMe page has helped raise more than £8,800 in Apryl’s memory.

Nikki said: “She touched so many people – we have had so kids knocking on the door and text messages. They are kids with broken hearts.

“The crowdfunding has been pretty amazing, we are really overwhelmed by it. We’re not asking for charity donations at her funeral because people have done enough, but if they would like to, Apryl would want it to be a mental health charity.

“She will be forever missed – her room is still the same as it was before she went away.”

You can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/apryl-scorer. You could also consider donating to one of the following local or national mental health charities:

Buckinghamshire Mind - www.bucksmind.org.uk/support-us/donate/

Lindengate Mental Health Charity - lindengate.org.uk/fundraising/

Wycombe Mind - www.justgiving.com/wycombemind/Donate

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - www.thecalmzone.net/

Rethink Mental Illness - www.rethink.org/

Young Minds - youngminds.org.uk/donate/

Mental Health Foundation - www.mentalhealth.org.uk/donate