Actress Kate Winslet joined hundreds of mourners at the funeral of inspirational mum Gemma Nuttall, who lost her five-year battle to ovarian cancer.

The young mum’s ‘rollercoaster’ fight to survive had confounded medics and inspired Hollywood stars, including Winslet, to lend their support after she turned down treatment while pregnant to save her baby’s life.

Despite being successfully treated after her daughter Penelope’s birth, the cancer returned.

Gemma Nuttall, from Haslingden, has died from cancer aged 29

Gemma, 29, died on Sunday, October 14 at Pendleside Hospice.

Family and friends wearing blue and pink gathered at Accrington Cemetery to celebrate Gemma’s life on Tuesday.

A horse-drawn carriage bearing Gemma’s coffin led the funeral procession with mourners entering the cemetery chapel to Beyonce’s song Halo.

Titanic star Winslet, 43, is understood to have been among those who paid tribute to Gemma during the service.

© Joel Goodman. The actress KATE WINSLET leaves the crematorium with her husband EDWARD SMITH after the service.

The actress’ own mum was going through the same cancer treatment at the same time when she first came across Gemma’s fundraising page online.

Winslet and her Titantic co-star Leonardo DiCaprio went on to help the family raise £300,000 for Gemma to have therapy in Germany.

Winslet and DiCaprio auctioned off three “Jack and Rose” date nights – named after the sweethearts they played in the Oscar-winning film.

The actress, 43, described Gemma’s death as “tragically sad” and said she was “a beacon of strength” and “my heart breaks for her mum and daughter’”.

Crowds gather ahead of the service . The funeral of Gemma Nuttall at Accrington Crematorium. Photo credit : Joel Goodman

In a statement released at the time of her death, she said: “My heart is solely with Helen, Penelope and all of the family at this tragically sad time. Gemma was such a beacon of strength and fought this battle so incredibly hard, with grace and dignity throughout.

“It was a privilege for me to be let into her life for a brief time and to try and help. The most heartbreaking part is that the immunotherapy truly worked, but very sadly only for a brief while, in Gemma’s case. Of course we all believed the cancer had gone forever.”

Gemma was discovered to have ovarian cancer when she was 16-weeks pregnant with Penelope.

The former Haslingden High School pupil was then given the option to have a termination so she could start life-saving treatment, but she delayed the treatment until after she gave birth.

Gemma's carriage led by two white horses dressed in pink and blue feathers, outside the crematorium. Photo credit : Joel Goodman

Following months of gruelling chemotherapy, Gemma was given the all-clear in 2017 before she was told the devastating news that her cancer had returned and spread.

The family have formed the Gemma Rose Foundation so they can help others going through similar pain.

Her mum Helen Sproates, of Haslingden, broke the news of her passing to Facebook followers, paying tribute to her ‘beautiful warrior’, adding: “My world will never be the same again.”

Flowers, tributes and a portrait of Gemma , outside the crematorium, after the service. Photo credit : Joel Goodman

Helen, 56, said her determination to make the Foundation succeed to honour Gemma, and make a difference to families like theirs, was giving her strength through her grief.

The charity’s aim is to fund - through hospices - specially dedicated counsellors to support young families affected by cancer, as Penelope has been during Gemma’s illness. Its objective was Gemma’s specific request.