Community remembers Shelley & Lily Wu at Buddhist funeral after sisters killed in tragic Handsworth crash

A heartbroken community gathered today to pay its respects to two Birmingham sisters killed in a tragic road accident.

A Buddhist blessing for Lily Wu, aged seven, and her six-year-old sister Shelley, took place at Grove Lane at 9am where prayers were said.

The pair were killed on June 21 while crossing Grove Lane, Handsworth, with their mother Zhu Lan, brother Edward, aged 13 and sister Catherine, aged 12.

Although seriously injured, Zhu Lan and her two elder children survived.

In emotional scenes Lily and Shelley’s father Ming Jin Wu and Zhu Lan, who was in a wheelchair, placed a hand on their daughters coffins during the blessing.

The two hearses carrying the sister’s tiny coffins were then taken to Seasons Palace in Smethwick for a remembrance service.

At the service prayers were said and incense candles were lit by family and friends as respects were paid to the two sisters.

Pictures of the girls were placed in front of their coffins, along with flowers and toys.

The hearses were then making their way to Handsworth Cemetery for internment.

After the tragedy, members of Birmingham's Chinese community independently set up an online fundraising page to raise money to help the family with their finances while they recover from the accident.

Initially a target of £10,000 was set, but this has recently topped £25,000.

People have been fundraising all over the country for the family, with donations coming from businesses in London as well as a community group in Cambridge.

The children's father Ming Jin Wu has been unable to work since his daughters died, in order to care for his wife, and older children who were also hospitalised after the crash.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash; a 34-year-old man was arrested at the scene on June 21st on suspicion of dangerous driving. He is currently on police bail.