THE family of a four-year-old boy who died of a rare virus today spoke of their heartbreak.

Benjamin Roy Dickinson died just days after doctors began to treat him for the symptoms of a common cold.

Now his distraught parents, of England Avenue, Blackburn, are getting support from a bereavement group set up by a local vicar who became upset at the lack of support for families who lost children.

Relatives of children who have died can attend each month, and get help from trained counsellors and support from other families in the same situation.

Ben's dad Ian, 31, an operations manager for a haulage firm, said: "He was off colour on the Saturday, before he died on the Wednesday.

"It didn't look like he was terminally-ill and he was not displaying terminall- ill symptoms.

"He was off his food and not sleeping too well, but they were generally four-year-old boy symptoms.

"Any parent with a child in hospital expects them to get better. But we know they did everything they could. There were so many doctors and nurses working on him."

Ben, who was known as 'Big Ben' to his friends at Kittens nursery on Veronica Street, Darwen, contracted heart muscle disease myocarditis. An inquest into the youngster's death revealed that he had suffered various health problems during his short life.

Last year was his healthiest year,then he died in November.

Mum Rebecca, 29, who works in the ticket office at Blackburn Rovers, said: "They kept him in Queen's Park for observation. He started eating and drinking again and looked like he was getting better. But they lost him within about two hours."

Now the doting parents, who have another young child, two-year-old Alex, go to the support group at St James Church, in Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen. It has been called 'Rachel's Children,' after a passage in the Bible. They hope to one day be able to help other parents.

The Rev Gill Dyer, a trained bereavement counsellor, helped set up the group after conducting Benjamin's funeral service, which featured his favourite song, Maybe Tomorrow by the Stereophonics.

Rebecca said: "Ben was such a positive child. If he couldn't fasten his dressing gown, every morning he would try and do it.

"That is some of the reasons why we have tried to find something positive out of it."

Mr Dyer said: "I have only been here 10 months and I have already taken three funerals for children which is terrible.

"One of the couples was saying that they have been going to a group in Bolton and that there were 60 people there.

"But there is nothing like this for people in Blackburn and Darwen.

"It is very hard for parents coming to terms with the death of their child and we hope this will help them in some way.

"It is a non-religious group which has been set up with the blessing of the NHS bereavement co-ordinator."

Ian said: "We need that support for ourselves but maybe in years to come we can give a little of that support back."

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a natural causes verdict.

The support group meet every second Wednesday of the month in the church's coffee lounge, from 7.30pm.

Anyone interested in going along can contact Mr Dyer on 01254 53898.