PARENTS John and Charlene Jeffries have spoken of the heartache they suffered when their five-year-old daughter was killed in a road collision.

They were speaking ahead of a cycle ride this weekend in her memory.

Lily-Mae Jeffries was with her two sisters and great-grandmother when they were in collision with two motorbikes during a break in Weymouth in March.

Kaycee-Ann, 11, and Annabella, six, survived the collision but Norton Fitzwarren Primary School pupil Lily-Mae died from her injuries.

Lily-Mae’s great-grandmother – John’s mother – was badly hurt in the collision and is recovering at her home in Weymouth.

Speaking from their Norton Fitzwarren home this week, John and Charlene said their little girl was ‘amazing’.

They said: “Lily was full of life; she was loved so much and was so kind. She was our ray of sunshine and she is very missed.

“We have been open and communicated with the children. If they want to talk about Lily-Mae and cry, we cry, if they want to talk about Lily-Mae and laugh, we laugh.

“We are all still very upset and taking things an hour at a time. The community has been really supportive around us. It does not make things easier but it does help.”

The couple, who also have a son, Anthony, nine, have kept a cabinet with various items to remember Lily-Mae including shoes and toys.

They thanked the overwhelming support they have received from the community, Norton Fitzwarren Primary School and the Royal Marines 40 Commando camp where John is serving as a sergeant having previously worked in Delta Company.

Lily-Mae was very popular among the Marines and more than 100 from the camp along with 300 others attended her funeral.

Charlene added: “I want to thank all the support from the primary school. We also thank WH Squires and Sons Funeral Directors for making Lily-Mae’s journey very beautiful and special and Charlotte Joyce for being my rock.”

This weekend, Norton Manor camp welfare officer WO2 Dug Hickin and his nephew Konnor Bracher-Walsh will set off on a 1,000-mile bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in less than 72 hours in memory of Lily-Mae.

John will be among the support crew for the challenge, titled ‘Ride4Royal’ while Charlene will fly to John O’Groats to meet the teams all at the finish line.

Dug said: “We know Cornwall and Dartmoor will be tough so we get that out of the way early, but the Highlands will be equally hard because we will be low on energy.”

All money raised will go to Go Commando for their project to refurbish the Families’ Centre at the camp.

The group is looking to smash its £15,000 target and hope the people of Taunton and Somerset can get behind them. Wessex Motorhome Hire, South-West Motorhome Hire and Zenergi are among sponsors which have supported the effort.

To sponsor the group, see www.justgiving.com/LEJOGRIDE4ROYAL or text RACE 40 (plus amount 1,2,5 etc) to 70070.