A FAMILY of four who died in a holiday road crash have been buried at a Marple church.

Mourners crammed inside Marple Ridge Methodist Church to say final goodbyes to Eric Pickford, 45, his 35-year-old wife Jill, her daughter from a previous marriage, Emma Bintliff, 14, and their six-year-old son Matthew.

Four caskets containing the family's remains were laid at the altar.

They died in the crash while driving through Irish countryside during a family holiday.

The couple's three-year-old son Simon survived after he was pulled from the mangled vehicle moments before it exploded. He has now been released from intensive care and is recovering in Cork Hospital.

The youngster's uncle and aunt, Bob and Pauline Pickford, who have been at his bedside since the crash, broke the tragic news to him just two days ago.

Eric's brother, Ian, said: "I'm sure Simon was in everybody's mind during the thanksgiving service - we are so grateful he is still alive. The first thing he asked when he regained consciousness was 'where is mummy?'. It is so hard for a three-year-old to understand that all his family are gone but he is surrounded by a lot of love and is coping well."

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