CHORLEY this week mourned the tragic loss of two children whose funerals were held on Tuesday.

At Sacred Heart Church, Tom Calligan, 5, and his father Graham, who were killed in a fire at Wordsworth Terrace, Chorley, last week, were laid to rest.

Meanwhile, the funeral of 21-month-old Alex Rae, who tragically died at a nursery, took place in secret.

Little Alex of Oakmere Avenue, Withnell Fold, was found lying face down in a pool of water on tarpaulins covering an ornamental pond by staff at Hill Top Bunnies nursery, Belmont.

The toddler had apparently fallen into the puddle as other children played around him in the nursery garden last Tuesday.

A member of staff spotted Alex and raised the alarm, but attempts to revive him failed and a doctor pronounced him dead on arrival at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Health and Safety officers were this week carrying out an investigation at the Lancashire County Council approved nursery and social services chiefs were also investigating.

Meanwhile, Blackburn detectives are making enquiries and an inquest was due to be opened, but the tragedy is not being treated as suspicious.

Alex's devastated mother Catriona, who requested a private funeral with a police presence, said briefly: "Everybody who saw Alex fell in love with him. He was absolutely beautiful."

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