The tragic loss of their three-year-old brought a young couple united in grief back together again.

Jesse Naris, who was born with a heart defect, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in April.

Scott Soper and Becky Naris, who met as teenagers at secondary school, had gone their separate ways after Jesse’s birth.

But their relationship was re-kindled with the untimely death of their beloved toddler.

Scott, 22, and Becky, 23, now live together in a flat in Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham, with daughter Aria, aged three.

He said: “We have been through this tragedy together. If anything, we have grown stronger and are closer together.”

Jesse was a popular lad and much loved at the Busy Bees Nursery at Brompton where staff have installed a memorial garden bench in his name.

The parents have praised staff at the pre-school in Khartoum Road for giving them support as they grieved their loss.

Scott, who works at a call centre in Maidstone, said: “They really stepped up to the mark for us. He started at the nursery last September and loved going along.”

The seat has a plaque which reads: “In loving memory of Jesse, always smiling."

At the unveiling, money was raised for Busy Bees charity partner, Child Bereavement UK.

It supports families and educates professionals both when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Nursery manager Emma Archer said: “Jesse always had such a big smile on his face.

“He was so happy and confident all the time, absolutely nothing fazed him.

“The team loved Jesse while he was in our care and he was really popular among the other children.

“He will always be in our thoughts.

"We have been through this tragedy together. If anything, we have grown stronger and are closer together" - Scott Soper

“The bench is our way of showing the impact Jesse had on us all and the mark he left on the nursery.

“We’re pleased that Jesse’s parents were able to join us for the unveiling and we will continue to offer them our support.”

The bench was unveiled at the nursery’s summer open day in its newly-refurbished garden.