A LARGE number of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of a mother and son on Friday.

The bodies of Christine and Robert Veitch have been released by Sunderland coroner Martin Shaw.

An inquest was opened and adjourned last Friday following their deaths earlier in the week.

Nine-year-old Robert died in hospital last Tuesday after slipping and hitting his head on the garden path of his home in St John's Vale, Pennywell, Sunderland.

Mrs Veitch, 28, collapsed with shock and swallowed her tongue after witnessing the accident.

She lost her fight for life in Sunderland Royal Hospital three days later.

Police are expecting a massive turnout for the funeral.

The cortege will leave Hylton Road to arrive at St Thomas's Church, for 12.45pm. The service will be followed by cremation at Sunderland Crematorium, at 1.30pm