A GRIEVING Bolton couple today renewed an appeal for the public to help catch the firebug who killed their young daughter and grandson.

Kath and Les Trigg, speaking to the BEN shortly after the funeral of their daughter Jean, 26, and grandson Anthony, five, said they "could never be at peace" until the arsonist who destroyed their lives was behind bars.

Choking back tears, Mr Trigg, 56, told the BEN: "Anthony was my beautiful little lad and Jean was always a good mum and daughter. Until this person is caught we can't try to find happiness again as a family."

Mrs Trigg, 51, of Sixth Avenue, Heaton, said the three months since Jean and Anthony were killed in an arson attack at a family friend's home in Clacton, Essex, had been an "indescribable nightmare."

She said: "We've not got over it . . . and I don't know whether we ever will."

But the couple paid tribute to family, friends, neighbours and police who shared their sorrow at yesterday's double burial at Heaton Cemetery, off Chorley New Road. As reported in yesterday's BEN, several members of Bolton's Dixie Raiders American Civil War society donned traditional military uniform, guns and swords to form a colourful funeral procession in memory of the tragic pair.

Little Anthony, a drummer boy for the society, based at Bradford Ward Labour Club, Bridgeman Street, Bolton, was buried in his beloved grey uniform with his coffin covered by an American confederate flag and tiny drum kit.

Two uniformed club members also fired a final pistol salute to the mum and schoolboy who moved in June from Deane, Bolton, to seaside town Clacton, in Essex, to start a new life.

Mr Trigg told the BEN: "Anthony lived for his little drummer boy uniform so we thought he would not want to be without it. We'd also like to say the support we've had both in Bolton and Clacton has been absolutely wonderful."

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