THE family of a much-loved four-year-old cancer victim want people to wear his favourite colour orange at his funeral.

Little Charlie Taylor, from Leigh, was diagnosed with an aggressive childhood cancer, stage four neuroblastoma, in August, and the family were also informed in June that he had autism.

His death has left his family, including mum Charlotte and sister Grace, devastated.

His nan Veronica Marriott said: “It is unimaginable that the whirlwind that was Charlie has gone.

“Our family have been beyond grief this past week because we are struggling to accept the fact that our boy isn’t here anymore.

“We are inviting everyone to attend Charlie’s funeral.

“All that we ask is that everyone could wear black with an orange tie or flower as this is Charlie’s colour.”

Members of the community had previously rallied to raise money for Charlie to receive treatment abroad and were kept informed of his treatment on a Facebook page called Hand in Hand with Charlie.

The family announced the little boy’s death on social media, with the post receiving more than 1,300 comments and well wishes from members of the public.

It said: “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we inform you that little Charlie passed away.

“Charlie was loved from the day he was born and his memory will always be with us.”

Veronica added: “He was our boy but he also became a part of so many lives in his fight against cancer.

“People shared his good times and his bad, they spurred us on when things got tough and shared the good times when things were good.

“People’s messages have been a great comfort to us – the right words are the hardest things at times like this but as time goes by these messages have been the greatest source of comfort to us.

“On behalf of the entire family we would like to thank everyone for their kind words as they mean more than we could ever say.”

Charlie’s family are welcoming members of the public to attend his funeral which will take place on Friday, July 29 at Howe Bridge Crematorium, off Lovers Lane in Atherton at 1pm and will be followed by a wake at Leigh Cricket Club on Beech Walk in Leigh.