THE funeral service of a woman found lying dead among bins in Southampton will take place today.

Jane Helbin’s body was discovered by refuse workers at flats in Millbrook Road East, Southampton.

Today family and frends of the 51-year-old from Coxford Close will attend her funeral.

It comes as mystery still surrounds the circumstances of her death. As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Jane’s brother John believes she had been walking to a bus stop to return to Antelope House, where she was being treated for bipolar disorder, when she died on June 22.

Her body was not discovered until the following morning.

Since she was diagnosed in 1995, Jane, who volunteered at the Cancer Research UK shop in Shirley, had spent at least 12 years in hospital and was last admitted in January.

But the former HM Customs and Excise worker had been on the mend and John had hoped she would be well enough to return home next month. The police have said the cause of her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. They are calling for witnesses to come forward and help officers discover what happened.

Around 50 people are expected at the funeral at Southampton Crematorium, organised by funeral directors Robert Shipp and Daughter, before a wake at Shirley Warren Action Church, in Warren Crescent, where Jane had been a member for 18 months.

Paying tribute, Rev Jenny Elliott said: “Jane taught many people about unconditional love and acceptance and that’s a very powerful message to teach. She was very hopeful and she had some good friends and she was a joy to have around. We will miss her greatly.”

There will also be a memorial service at the sanctuary at Antelope House at 10.30am.

An inquest has been adjourned until August 19.