THE parents of a three-year-old girl who died from a suspected overdose of the heroin substitute methadone returned to East Lancashire to join hundreds of mourners at a funeral service.

Asad Mujahid, 27, was released from custody at Preston Prison and taken by taxi to Randal Street Mosque, Blackburn, where a funeral service was held for his daughter Natalia.

His wife, Taj Begum Ali, 24, was also taken by taxi from her cell in Styal Women's Prison, Cheshire, to a house in Whitewell Place, Blackburn, to pray for the child as women were not allowed inside the mosque.

Natalia and her one-year-old brother Danish were rushed to hospital on April 18 and transferred from Blackburn Royal Infirmary to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, for treatment, but Natalia died later that day.

Danish, who is also thought to have swallowed methadone, has been discharged from hospital and is now staying with relatives. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Taj Ali has been charged with murdering Natalia and attempting to murder Danish by giving them methadone while her husband is accused of the manslaughter of Natalia and neglect of the younger child.

Asad Mujahid arrived at the mosque shortly before 2.30pm yesterday, handcuffed to a prison officer and flanked by two other guards.

Wearing a red sweatshirt and pin-striped trousers, he made his way through a number of people who had congregated in Randal Street before entering the mosque. He emerged from the building less than five minutes later and wept as other mourners comforted and consoled him as he made his way through the crowds to the waiting taxi.

His wife prayed with other women from the family and bathed Natalia after the service to prepare her for the journey to Pakistan, where she will be buried.

Coun Hussain Akhtar, who attended Natalia's funeral, said the mosque was so full people had to remain outside during the service.

He said: "There were between 500 and 600 people in there and this is one of the biggest funerals we have seen. I did not speak to Mr Mujahid but he looked tired and upset.

"Everyone is upset by this tragedy. The whole community is sad. Sad for the family, for the community and for Blackburn." Asad Ali's solicitor, Emma Morrissey, said her client was dealing with the situation and that she would make another application for bail when she appeared before Preston Crown Court.

Both defendants issued statements through their solicitors to protest their innocence when they appeared before Blackburn magistrates last Saturday.