HUNDREDS of mourners are gathering to pay their respects to a young woman who was killed while travelling the world.

The funeral for Grace Millane, a 22-year-old woman who was killed while backpacking in New Zealand, is taking place at Brentwood Cathedral today.

Friends have joined her loving family to mourn her death and pay their respects at the service following a procession from her family home in Wickford.

A private burial will take place after the service, before the congregation moved to the Stockbrook Country Club for the wake where they will celebrate her life.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Grace was part way through a trip around the world and had been in New Zealand for two weeks before going missing from a hostel on December 1.

An appeal was launched and her father, David Millane, travelled to New Zealand to join in the search.

Tragically her body was later discovered.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

A 26-year-old man appeared at Auckland District Court on December 11 charged with murdering the backpacker between December 1 and 2.

The defendant, listed as staying in CityLife Hotel on Queen Street in central Auckland - where Grace had been staying - has not entered a plea.

* The Echo has sought permission from Grace's family to picture the procession. We will not be intruding on the service, burial or wake.