THE funeral of Gary Perring, who died after apparently inhaling aerosol spray, will be held at St Mary's Church in Purton on Friday at 10.30am.

Gary, 13, a pupil at Bradon Forest School, had been living with his grandparents in Washpool, West Swindon, since his father's suicide.

The headmaster of Bradon Forest School, Len Spiers, other members of staff and Gary's classmates are expected to attend to the service.

Grandparents Larry and Gloria Perring were preparing to take out Gary and other members of the family for a meal on Sunday when their grandson collapsed and died without regaining consciousness.

They were going to celebrate Gloria's 55th birthday at a local restaurant.

An inquest has still to be held.

"We loved him to bits," said granddad Larry, 57.

"He was anti-drugs and smoking. He was such a sensible and lovely lad and we'll never know what happened. It was all over so quickly."

Gary had been in his bedroom getting ready for going out, when he suddenly dashed from his room and rushed downstairs, screaming: "Nan! Nan! Nan!"

Before he could give an explanation, he collapsed in his grandmother's arms.

It is not the first tragedy to hit the family.

When he was nine, Gary found his father's hanging body in their Penhill flat, where they were living at the time.