A BRAVE five-year-old boy from Wotton-under-Edge has lost his life-long struggle with Leigh's disease.

Lachlan Weeks died on Friday, September 26 and some 170 mourners - including consultants and nurses from Bristol Children's Hospital - attended the funeral at Oliver Memorial Chapel, Synwell, Wotton, last Friday.

The white coffin was carried on a horse drawn carriage, with everyone following.

Lachlan, or Locky as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was adopted by Sue and Chris Weeks, of Mount Pleasant, earlier this year. They had been fostering him since December 1999.

Lachlan's muscular condition had deteriorated during the past year, involving a tracheotomy and a gastostomy. Eventually his lungs were unable to function.

His grandmother, Joan Barker, of Tabernacle Road, said: "The people at the hospital said if it wasn't for the love and care Chris and Susan gave, Lockie wouldn't have survived at all."

Adored grandfather Doug Barker, to whom Lachlan always responded particularly, was amazed at the devotion shown by the professionals.

He said: "Locky made such a big impression on everyone - he responded to people, and they gave him attention and affection in turn."

Daren Rossiter, husband of Lachlan's sister Hayley, read a poem at the funeral written by Doug Barker. The Real Me opens with the lines: "My smiling eyes and a laughing face, Are all I can offer the human race."

Mr Barker said: "Young men were crying, listening and thinking about the things Lockie would have loved to do. How one little lad could reduce so many people to tears is hard to imagine."

But there was laughter at the funeral too. The service began with Lockie's favourite tune, The Laughing Policeman.

"He wasn't a serious chap", said Mrs Barker.

Lachlan died at home, in his mother's arms, with a nurse from the James Hopkins Trust, and surrounded by his family.

The Barkers said: "We would like to thank those wonderful people who have helped our little Locky to enjoy his short but precious life. We have all been lucky to have him."