Oldham 'hit-and-run' deaths: Victims were 'soulmates' Published duration 16 January 2017

image copyright Family handout image caption Helina Kotlarova (left) and her 11-year-old cousin Zaneta Krokova were killed in the crash

Two cousins who died after a suspected hit-and-run have were "soulmates", their family have said.

Zaneta Krokova and Helina Kotlarova were holding hands when they were hit by a car in Oldham on New Year's Eve.

Speaking before their funerals, the partner of Helina's brother, Michaela Tarkaiova, said they were "bright" and went "everywhere together".

After the service, hundreds of people walked through the town behind the girls' coffins.

The funerals took place at St Paul's Church in Ashton Road, near to where the pair were fatally injured.

image copyright PA image caption The funerals for the two girls took place at a church near where they were fatally injured

The Rev Nick Andrewes, who led the funerals, said the girls' deaths "reminds us how precious, and yet how fragile, is the life and love that we share".

In his eulogy, he said 12-year-old Helina "was full of energy and life, and didn't like to see anyone sad", while Zaneta, who was 11, was "warm-hearted and generous".

He added the local "diverse community" had "come together to support the families of Zaneta and Helena in their grief".

media caption Local residents joined the funeral procession through Oldham

Speaking before the service, Ms Tarkaiova said the families were feeling like something had "broken inside us".

"It has been really tough. The families - especially the mums of the two girls - are always crying," she said.

She described Helina as a "happy" girl who "loved to eat, loved to dance, loved to sing".

"She looked older, but inside she was still a child, she liked to play hide-and-seek," she added.

image copyright PA image caption The funeral procession was led by the families of the two cousins

image copyright PA image caption Floral tributes were left at the scene

image copyright PA image caption Musicians took part in the procession, which followed the coffins through the town

Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms Tarkaiova thanked members of the Oldham community who had provided help to the grieving relatives "financially, with their blessings, and everything".

"The pain what we're going through, they're feeling it with us," she said.

"They [Helina and Zaneta] have always been together and at the end of the day, they even died together and now they're in the coffins together, which is really sad."

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