MOURNERS wept today as a little drummer boy and his young mum, both killed in an arson attack, were buried in Bolton.

Scores of people gathered at Heaton Cemetery to say a tearful farewell to five-year-old Anthony Trigg and his mum Jean, 26, who died when firebugs attacked a family friend's home in Clacton, Essex, in July.

Mourners flocked to a graveside service as little Anthony, an "American Civil War" drummer boy for Bolton country and western club Dixie Raiders, was buried in his beloved grey "confederate" uniform.

And some friends, family and neighbours also dressed in American-style gear as a mark of respect to the tragic pair, who left Deane, Bolton, for seaside town Clacton earlier this year to start a new life.

Rev Edwin Halliday, of St Michael's Church, Great Lever, conducting a short service at the family's request, spoke of two young lives cut tragically short.

He said: "We meet today with heavy hearts mindful of the senseless and tragic happenings in Clacton last July. "The reasons for these events are incomprehensible to us, but they have resulted in the loss of the earthly lives of a young mum and her son."

The minister, also speaking on behalf of Rev David Griffiths, of Heaton, and Canon Roger Jackson, of Deane, said Jean's parents Kath and Les Trigg also wanted to pay tribute to emergency services and medical teams who attended the fateful fire.

He added: "Kath and Les would also like to thank members of the Bolton Dixie Raiders country and western club for their tribute today."

Earlier mourners walked in a funeral cortege from Kath and Les's home in Sixth Avenue, Heaton, to make the short journey to Heaton Cemetery.

Police in Essex are still hunting the firebug who started the fatal blaze in Church Crescent, Clacton, just a stone's throw from the town's seafront. Jean and Anthony, a pupil at St Mary's CE Primary School, Deane, were staying temporarily with family friend Christine Wroe, formerly of Little Hulton, when the arsonist struck by igniting accelerants in the house hallway.

Anthony was overcome by fumes and single mum Miss Trigg later died in hospital.

Miss Trigg's other baby son Callum, now seven months old, was revived by a fireman and survived after a lengthy battle for life in hospital.

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