A MOTHER and her baby son have been laid to rest in the same coffin eight years after a devastating arson attack which their family blame for their premature deaths.

Katie Louise James (nee Perkins) and her baby son William Richard Leonard James were laid to rest in the churchyard of St Egwin's Church Norton and Lenchwick, near Evesham, on Monday afternoon.

As previously reported, their deaths have been attributed by family to a fire at The Glade in Malvern on Monday, October 13, 2008 which earlier claimed the life of Richard Perkins, Katie's step-father.

The mother and son arrived in a white carriage drawn by four white horses, each adorned with a crest of pink feathers as a lone piper (Andy King) in full regalia played.

Katie and her son were buried at the same church where Mrs James had been married to husband Chris on August 4, 2011.

The church was full. Pallbearers were dressed in pink suits and even the coffin was pink - Mrs James's favourite colour.

Family arrived in a pink Limousine and a pink Hummer, dressed in pink and leopard print as they said their farewells to 25-year-old Katie and her stillborn son who died just a day apart - William on June 27 and Katie the following day after she developed breathing problems.

The service was conducted by Reverend Andrew Spurr who paid tribute to Katie's courage and the way she carried her wounds after the fire.

He said: "I became aware of her, as many people outside the family were, after the fire which affected her voice so desperately.

"I can remember how determined she was to get the (wedding) vows out even though she was going to have to rasp them through her throat.

"She was someone who didn't let setbacks stand between her and what she wanted to do."

Rose Perkins, Katie's mother, read 'Poem to my Parents' as she said farewell to her youngest child.

She paid tribute to Katie's husband Chris, telling him 'you did the best for your wife who we all know could be stubborn at times'.

She said of her daughter: "You had a heart of gold and you did your best for everyone. Family meant everything to you."

Rose said the family would now look after Katie's daughter, Poppy, four, who attended the service in a blue dress and a Frozen hat.

Poppy kissed her mum and baby brother's coffin before they were lowered into the ground, comforted by dad Chris who had also been one of the pallbearers.

Rose Perkins said: "Katie, you would be proud of her (Poppy). She has been such a good girl and all our family will take care of her the way you would have wanted so no worrying then."

Songs played at the funeral included 'Amazing Grace', 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith, 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman' from Frozen, 'Applejack' by Dolly Parton (which Poppy sang to her mum as she died), 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' and 'Spirit in the Sky' by Norman Greenbaum.

Pink ties and pink jackets and flowers were placed on top of the coffin and a balloon release of pink and blue balloons took place in the churchyard.

As previously reported the arson attack was carried out by Stephen George-Davies who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder but died on October 20, 2014 of natural causes.

Family say it was Katie who raised the alarm and saved the lives of her family in fire but suffered breathing problems as a result of the blaze.

Katie also leaves behind three brothers, Shaun, David and Ben and was described as being like a second mum to them.