As the sun shone high in the sky, family, friends, carers and teachers gathered to celebrate the life of a little boy who touched the hearts of everyone he met.

Loved ones wore bright colours and blew bubbles in memory of Terry Kiddie, who was born with cerebral palsy and brain damage, and died last month aged 10.

The service was held at Deerton Natural Burial Ground, Teynham, where a pair of doves were released for Terry.

Reflecting on her son’s life, his mother Melanie Kiddie, from Rainham, said: “We knew he was vulnerable and we knew at any point he could be taken from us so we were all realistic enough to know he was going to have a short life.

“A whole decade with his family was more than he was expecting.”

He was taken to King’s College Hospital, London, on the morning of Sunday, May 24, but passed away shortly before 6pm.

Terry was the youngest of Ms Kiddie’s three children, a little brother to Tom, 17, and Tasha, 12.

Terry had limited mobility and was unable to speak after having a tracheotomy, but that did not stop him enjoying life.

He loved music and swimming and, as a pupil at Abbey Court School, was able to experience many different things.

Demelza children’s hospice also played an important role, caring for Terry and providing respite for his mother and siblings.

Floral tributes at the ceremony were kept to a minimum as the family asked people to make a donation to Demelza.

Terry was a Liverpool football fan; his coffin was draped in the club flag and the service closed with a playing of the club’s anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone. Afterwards, everyone went to Rainham Social Club for a celebration of his life.

Terry spent long periods in hospital, endured multiple operations and suffered a series of complications but when he returned home in 2012, he was unable to go upstairs.

His family converted the lounge into a room for him while Melanie turned her bedroom into the family living room and slept on a mattress on the floor.

A fundraising campaign, backed by the Medway Messenger, was launched for him to have his own bedroom at the family home in Rainham.