The mother of a six-year-old boy who died after plunging from a hotel balcony with his father blew her "happy little chap" a last poignant kiss goodbye yesterday as he was laid to rest.

Liam Hogan was killed when he fell 50ft from a fourth-floor balcony during a family holiday at Crete, Greece.

He and his two-year-old sister Mia were allegedly being held by their father John when he jumped from the building on August 15.

Liam died after suffering massive head injuries, but Mia survived, breaking her arm.

Mr Hogan, aged 32, from Bristol, who sustained a broken arm, leg and chest injuries, remains in hospital and is expected to be charged with murder.

Yesterday hundreds of mourners gathered for Liam's funeral at Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, a short distance from the family home.

His body was carried in a small white coffin, covered in white roses and sunflowers. A dalek made out of sunflowers and tardis from Liam's favourite TV show Dr Who were placed next to his coffin.

Natasha Hogan, aged 34, was helped into the building by her mother Elizabeth, and appeared unsteady.

The Rev George Nuttall, one of two ministers conducting the service, insisted John Hogan had been "an excellent dad" with a close relationship with his children.

"'Thoughtful' was a word to describe Liam, an older head on young shoulders," he said.

"Not a day would go by without him telling his mum, Natasha, he loved her. When Natasha got dressed up and made-up to go out he would always stop what he was doing and say how beautiful she looked."

As the 40-minute service ended, Mrs Hogan emerged and kissed her hand before placing it on Liam's coffin in the back of the hearse.

As the hearse drove off, Mrs Hogan broke down as she was comforted by close family in the back of the car. The service was followed by a cremation at South Bristol Crematorium.

Mr Hogan, who ran a tiling business in Bristol, faces being charged with murdering his son and the attempted murder of his daughter.

He is being treated in the University General Hospital, Heraklion, under police guard.