Benedict Cumberbatch has paid tribute to a young ‘Sherlock’ fan that has passed away.
The 38-year-old star – who plays the infamous detective Sherlock Holmes in the BBC One series – sent an open letter to the family of 14-year-old Eve Shepherd, who died after suffering breathing problems earlier this month.
In a letter read to the packed church, he wrote: "I send my deepest sympathies to Eve’s family.
"To lose someone so young who fought for her health all her life must be beyond endurance. I wish I could be there but sadly am filming the show she loved.
"God rest her soul. With all my love and sympathies, Benedict xxx."
Eve – who hailed from Padgate, Cheshire, north England – was born 12 weeks prematurely, weighing just 1lb 9oz.
She defied all odds and has undergone over 200 operations including a tracheotomy.
Some mourners wore Sherlock-style deerstalker hats to the ceremony and the procession exited the church to the theme music from the hit series.
Her parents, Mark, 47, and Jane, 46, later paid tribute to their daughter.
Mark said: "Eve would find this funny, she was a big TV and film fan.
"She would be giggling her head off at the thought she was in the paper. But she would be so happy about the letter from Benedict, she was a huge fan."
Benedict Cumberbatch pays tribute to young Sherlock fan
