THE parents of a tragic toddler who died at his childminder's home have been granted permission to hold a second funeral for him.

And today Joshua Massey-Hodgkinson's mother revealed her family's heartache at trying to get through Christmas without him.

Close friends and family of the 19-month-old, who died in Sabden in April, will gather at his grave later this week for the ceremony.

The first funeral took place in May, but several of his body parts were retained as investigations continued into the cause of his death.

Josh's parents, Emma Massey and Simon Hodgkinson, of Low Moor, Clitheroe, were told last week that tests had been completed and that they could have the organs back.

Emma, who works for a publishing firm in Clitheroe, said: "It is a weight off my mind to know that he will finally be at peace once we have held this second funeral.

"It is good also that it has happened before Christmas, because Christmas was a very special time with Josh and a time I will never forget.

"I know this sounds like an awful thing to say but I wish I could just close the door and pretend it wasn't going on.

"It is really hard hearing people talking about what presents to get for their children and what they plan to do with the children.

"I've lost my child so I can't do that and I find it quite hard.

"But the support I have received from friends and family has been wonderful.

"They kept a lot of him for tests and that was a difficult thing to deal with, but all we want in the end is to find out what happened to him."

Josh's childminder, Wendy Barlow, of Eightacre Avenue, Sabden, was charged in the summer with manslaughter.

She has formally pleaded not guilty to the charge and a full trial will begin in April in Preston.

Following Wednesday's ceremony at Clitheroe Cemetery, friends and family have been invited by Emma to attend the Rose and Crown in Clitheroe at 11.45am as a way of thanking them for their support.