THE funeral of a young boy who died after an arson attack on his home will be held on Thursday.

Dean Pike, 11, was found dead on the landing of the house he shared with his mother, Janine Dodd, on Deerness Estate, Hendon, Sunderland, in June.

The youngster became trapped in the blaze but his 29-year-old mother, who was heavily pregnant, managed to leap from an upstairs window to escape the flames.

Two men have been charged with Dean's murder and the attempted murder of his mother.

She spent several weeks in Newcastle General Hospital fighting for her life and the life of her unborn child, but has since been discharged.

It is understood she has been well enough to help arrange the funeral, which will take place at 11.30am at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Nothr Tyneside, and will be there on Thursday to say a final farewell to her only son.

Ms Dodd, and Dean's father, also called Dean, will pay tribute to the firefighters who fought desperately to try to save their son's life.

They have asked for donations and tributes to Dean, who would have been 12 on August 1, to benefit the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund.

Colin Powell, brigade deputy area manager in Sunderland, said: "Our thoughts will be with Dean's family at this most traumatic of times. I know we will share their sad loss of one so young."

Northumbria Police were unable to say last night whether Ms Dodd had given birth to her baby, which is due this month.

She and Dean had moved into their Mordey Close home only six weeks before the fire.

The youngster, a pupil at nearby Southmoor school and a keen footballer, was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

* Terry Majinusz, 40, of North Bridge Street, and Neil English, 42, of Chester Road, both Sunderland, have been charged with murder and attempted murder.