Toni-Ann will be buried alongside her father Bertram

Toni-Ann Byfield, who was shot in the back in a London bedsit, will be laid to rest alongside her father Bertram following a family funeral service in Birmingham.

The funeral will take place at the New Testament Church of God on 24 October and will be followed by a burial service at the nearby Handsworth Cemetery.

Speaking to BBC News Online following a candlelight vigil at the church for the youngster on Friday, Bishop Derek Webley, who will lead the funeral service, said he expected hundreds of mourners to pay their respects.

Toni-Ann's mother, Rosalyn Christine Richards, attended the vigil with around 100 family members and friends.

Her daughter was in the care of Birmingham Social Services when she died and had previously lived in the city.

Emotional service

She was also a former member of the Sunday school at the church where she was remembered on Friday in an emotional service.

Bishop Webley said he felt the vigil had helped the family as part of the grieving process.

A candlelight vigil remembered Toni-Ann with songs and poetry readings

He said: "The mood of the family was they felt they had crossed a small, but significant hurdle in terms of engaging the community with their grief."

Candles were lit for Toni-Ann and her father during a service which featured poetry readings, songs and tributes from family, friends and former teachers.

Four people have been arrested and released on bail following the murder of Toni-Ann and her father at his bedsit in Kensal Green in north west London on 14 September.

Care review

Detectives believe Toni-Ann, who was shot in the back, may have been killed to stop her identifying the person who killed her father.

She had been visiting her father for the weekend and normally stayed with relatives in London during the week.

Birmingham City Council has promised a review of the management of her care.

Mr Byfield, 41, a Briton raised in Jamaica, served nine years in a British prison for dealing crack cocaine and survived a similar shooting a year ago.

According to post mortem examinations he died after being shot twice and Toni-Ann was shot once in the back.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses.