A seven-year-old boy who died in a devastating explosion in Newcastle has been laid to rest at an emotional superhero-themed funeral.
Little Archie York was killed when the blast ripped through six flats on the terraced street of Violet Close in Benwell in the early hours of Wednesday October 16.
Today around 250 mourners arrived at the West Road Crematorium in the city to pay their respects to the schoolboy.
Two beautiful white horses pulled a hearse of the same colour which was laden with flowers.
The horses were covered in a funeral drape embroidered with the little boy’s name and images of Spiderman and the Hulk.
In the aftermath of Archie’s death friends and family left tributes at the scene.
His aunt, Abbie York, wrote a letter which read: ‘You were the funniest little boy, always with a mischievous smile on your face.
‘You were the brightest light in any room and our world is a lot darker without you.
‘As your auntie you made me so proud when you would sit and do your handwriting homework and read books.
‘I could talk about you forever as you truly were the most amazing boy!
‘Our hearts are broken and can never be repaired.’
Spiderman teddies and balloons were tied to railings for the little boy.
Archie’s devastated parents Katherine Errington and Robbie York paid tribute in a statement which read: ‘As a family, we remain absolutely devastated by the loss of our Archie.
‘Our cheeky son had a heart of gold, and being in a world without him is a nightmare we can never wake from.
‘Everyone loved Archie, and we would like to thank the whole community for their ongoing support.’
Father-of-two, Jason Laws, 35, was also killed in the blast.
In a Facebook tribute his brother Joseph said he would be telling Jason’s two children he was the ‘best dad in the world’ as they grow up.
Reece Galbraith, 33, has been charged in connection with the deaths.
He pleaded not guilty to two charges of manslaughter at Newcastle Crown Court this morning.
Galbraith, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, also denied producing a controlled drug, namely cannabis, on October 16 and being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, between April 15 2024 and October 17 2024.