Charlie-Bob Townsend was a six-year-old boy found dead in a fire at his home in Long Ashton, Somerset on 24 April, 2008.

His funeral took place on 7 May with more than 100 mourners - including family and former schoolfriends - followed a horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of Charlie-Bob through Long Ashton in North Somerset before his funeral got under way at All Saints Church, Weston Road.

His mother Paula prepared a tribute for her son, read out by the Reverend Ann Sergeant during the service. It said: "The pain we feel is real, yet we still come with thankfulness for the person Charlie was.

"For it is impossible to remember Charlie without a smile. He charged through life like a bull in a china shop - a whirlwind to all who knew him. A whirlwind of energy and love sweeping all around him into his fun-filled world."

The horse-drawn carriage was decorated with sunflowers by pupils from Northleaze Primary School which Charlie-Bob attended..

His friends there have already set up a tribute in the reception area of their school following the tragedy. The display featured a photograph of Charlie-Bob dressed as a knight when he took part in a mock battle as part of a classroom project just a few weeks prior to his death.

Children were given the opportunity to create the shrine to remember their classmate after being told of his death at a special assembly.

Headteacher John Jolliffe said: "Charlie-Bob was a very happy boy who loved coming to school and had lots of friends. He was loved by his classmates and his friends in the whole school community.

"We explained that is was right to be sad at a time like this. The children were given an opportunity to express their feelings and memories of him by making art, cards and models and to put them into a display."

Mr Jolliffe thanked staff at North Somerset Council and pupils' parents for their "wonderful" support following the tragedy.

One child left a card reading: "You have been my dear friend since nursery school. I love you and will miss you forever."

Charlie-Bob had a nine-year-old brother, Louis. ''It hasn't really sunk in for Louis. He said to us that he wants the phone to stop ringing and that he wants us to stop crying," said their mother. ''We have had to explain to him that this is a normal process after someone passes away.''

A post-mortem examination on Charlie-Bob revealed he died before the fire started. His father was found hanged in a garage next to the house.

Friends of Mr Townsend, a freelance set designer for the Bristol-based BBC drama Casualty, said that he had lost a court custody battle with his former wife Paula just hours before the tragedy.