Her death from skin cancer on July 17 was marked with a funeral honouring her irrepressible spirit, her family said this week.

The 19-year-old also suffered from epidermolysis bullosa - which causes skin to blister and fall off. She learned doctors were unable to cure her in April, after a number of operations.

But despite the setback, her father Robin said the former Warwickshire College student "got the best from every day even though she was in pain".

"She should be an example for healthy adults to follow," he added.

"She was kind and managed to smile and care for people right until the end. She was always smiling. We will miss her greatly but we know she has gone to a place with no pain."

More than 300 people attended Alex's funeral at Oakley Wood Crematorium in Bishops Tachbrook on July 25.

The ceremony was led by Mr Hood and his son, who is also called Robin, and all guests wore bright clothing.

Mr Hood said: "Alex hated people being unhappy. She always tried to be happy and she was never depressed. Even at the end, when she knew she was dying, she managed to be happy."

In September 2007, Alex appeared in the Courier with her specially-adapted car which was bought by Harrods owner Mohammed Fayed.

But the teenager, who lived in Lillington with her mother Virginia, only managed to take six lessons in the vehicle before becoming too ill to drive.

She also gained a place at Leicester University and was due to start a course in development and interior design next month

Mr Hood gave up his own business to work for charity Debra, which researches epidermolysis bullosa, in 1995.

He is now head of the charity's major events department and has helped raise millions of pounds for the cause.

He added: "I feel cheated that I am not going to get the cure I wanted for my daughter but there are lots of people younger than Alex who have the condition and I promised her I would not give up.

"We are so close now but without public support we will not be able to put this condition where it belongs - in the history books."

* Warwick resident Amy Yates also suffered from epidermolysis bullosa. The ten-year-old died last August and had the condition from birth.