Vehicles from around the country were brought in to form a special convoy in honour of much-loved toddler James 'Lumpy' Russell.

Remembered as a "bright, happy and funny little boy", James died suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep, aged only two, in March this year.

Devastated at the loss, his family, from All Saints Close, Swanscombe, were determined to give James a fitting send-off - and arranged a funeral themed around his love of race cars, film vehicles and TV show PAW Patrol.

Hundreds turned out on Tuesday last week to help make the day as special as possible - meeting in Ebbsfleet before travelling in convoy to Medway Crematorium.

In a special tribute to James, mum and dad Rebecca and Daniel recalled how James had been a happy and healthy 27-month-old right up until his passing on Friday March 8.

His parents had woken early that morning to feed James' younger brother Lewis when they realised James didn’t look right.

"It was obvious he had already gone," they said. "He was completely unresponsive, and he was declared passed by the paramedics after resuscitation attempts failed."

But they said James and his passion for life would never be forgotten, adding: "James made such an impact on people who he met. So many said what a bright, happy and funny little boy he was.

"He truly lit up a room with his cheekiness, the whole family are devastated to lose such a huge part of them.

"Since his passing he has continued to touch others, all those that gave time to come to the funeral all went away touched by this little boy.

"His loss will always be felt and he will always be remembered."

Remembering his love of cars they added: "James loved paw patrol and cars, he was always promising to buy mummy a Mustang. When in London before Christmas James kept asking to touch a Lamborghini at some traffic lights which he was told no but he did anyway, proudly stating 'I did it, I did it, I touched race car.'

"We decided that his funeral needed to reflect the little boy that James was."

Among the cars in the convoy was a Lamborghini and three Ford Mustangs, while family members converted their own vehicles into cars from the Disney film Cars, and his grandad made a fire engine from the same film for James' coffin.

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Pride of place in the convoy was a Plymouth Superbird, the inspiration for James' favourite Cars character, The King, which he has always called “Mr the King".

Several car clubs were involved, as were Character Cars UK, Shadow Car Culture, The Teddy Bear Run - which supports children's charities - and Kent Mustang Hire.

Motorbike outriders also assisted along with an abnormal load escort van.

The family's modified cars will remain the same as a memorial to James and will be used for charity fundraising in the future.

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