Service held for fire death boys

About 150 people have attended a church service in memory of two young boys who died in a house fire in East Sussex.

Lewis Jenkins, seven, and his brother Taylor, five, died in the fire at their terraced house in Milfoil Drive, Eastbourne, on 4 October.

A one-hour memorial service was held at the Shinewater Community Church, close to the boys' home.

Their mother, Denise Goldsmith, 29, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child neglect, before being bailed.

Church pastor Nigel Hewitt told the packed congregation on Sunday morning that it was with sadness that he addressed them.

"They did enjoy life, enjoyed being with their friends and playing on their bikes, we should remember those things"
Head teacher John Greenwood

He said: "I am pleased so many of you have come to here today.

"It is not a happy occasion, this is a service to express our sadness at the loss of those two young children and to offer the family of Lewis and Taylor our condolences and prayers."

Corinne Ayres, of the Shinewater Shaftesbury Centre, said: "The whole estate was covered in mist today and that is what it felt like all week.

"There is a blanket of grief across the estate, people are devastated."

Shinewater Primary School head teacher, John Greenwood, said the deaths of the two boys had had a profound effect on their fellow pupils and his staff.

'Celebrate their lives'

He added: "I cannot imagine what it is like for the family of Lewis and Taylor at the moment. All we can do is help to celebrate their lives.

"They did enjoy life, enjoyed being with their friends and playing on their bikes, we should remember those things."

On Friday Miss Goldsmith released a statement through her solicitor, Justin Rivett, saying that she wanted to set the record straight.

Mr Rivett said Miss Goldsmith had "fully participated" in the investigation into the blaze and "categorically denies" being in any way responsible for the fire.

In a statement, he said she tried to do everything she could to save her sons and was now left devastated by their loss.

Not arson

Ms Goldsmith visited the scene the day after her sons died to lay flowers.

She had to be restrained from entering the burnt-out property by her family.

Her sons died from inhaling fire fumes, post-mortem examinations revealed.

The incident is being investigated by detectives and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Sussex Police are not treating the fire as arson.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Sussex Police
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites