Tot Hollie Ashurst: How ripples of grief and shock spread through Wigan following the news of her death

Lovingly known as Hollie Dollie, she was a little girl with a beautiful smile whose mother described her as “everyone’s ray of sunshine”.

Soon after police revealed they were investigating her death, tributes were left outside the family’s home on Fleming Court, Shevington.

While liveried police cars were still parked outside the house, people left flowers and soft toys in memory of the tot.

In a moving statement released at the time, her mother Leanne Thompson said: “Hollie was my dream come true. She was such a bright, smiley, happy little girl and was everyone’s ray of sunshine. Hollie brightened everyone’s day and was an inspiration and never unhappy.

“Fly high my princess with your other loved ones and sweet dreams my baby girl, I will always love you.”

Her aunts, grandad and uncle said: “She was always smiling. She has been through operations with her cleft, but she never let anything bother her.

“Hollie was the happiest baby. She struggled through her operations, and she was such a brave girl. She had just started to crawl and was such a clever girl and she never got upset. She loved watching cartoons.

“She was alert and always happy and loved watching Mr Tumble and In The Night Garden.”

Family friends wanting to do something to help decided to set up an online appeal to raise money for Hollie’s funeral.

The website stated: “This page has been set up by friends to support a grieving mother and family in such a difficult time. That have lost this little girl at such a young age in such horrific circumstances. So the family can receive contributions to give this little girl a send off she deserves, true princess style. RIP Hollie Ashurst. Aka Hollie Dollie.”

The £1,500 target was soon smashed, with more than 130 people giving £2,350 for the send-off.

Leanne said: “That was amazing, for people to be so generous.”

More than six weeks after she died, Hollie’s body was taken in a horse-drawn carriage to Howe Bridge Crematorium in Atherton.

The white carriage, which took Hollie on a heartrending procession through Tyldesley, was adorned with flowers that read “Hollie Mae” and “Princess”, before her little pink coffin was carried into the crematorium.

Women attending the funeral were asked to wear a pink blouse or top, while men were encouraged to wear a pink tie.

Cuddly toys, balloons and flowers were left by family members and other loved ones outside the venue, with messages of condolence attached.

It was a poignant way to say goodbye to the tot whose short life touched so many people.

Nearly a year later, Hollie has remained in the thoughts of those who knew her, as well as many strangers touched by her sudden death.

Leanne praised her family and friends, including people who were friends of Daniel Ashurst and have since offered their support.

The Botanical Gardens in Tyldesley bought a star in Hollie’s memory, as her grandfather is a regular there and was sometimes joined by Leanne and her daughter.

Named the Hollie Mae Star, it will become visible on Christmas Day this year - the day after what would have been her third birthday.

People across the borough and beyond have been thinking of Hollie too. Many tributes have been paid through Wigan Today’s Facebook page and live updates from court proceedings have been followed closely.

Leanne said: “I have had a lot of Facebook messages, a lot of people just giving their support and saying sorry.”

It is clear that Hollie and her big smile will certainly never be forgotten.

Special report in tomorrow's (Friday) Wigan Evening Post ...