A DEVASTATED couple told today how they plan to lay tragic toddler Aaron to rest by scattering his ashes into the sea off Thailand.

Graham Gardiner and his fiance Sally Reynolds had planned to marry next month on a beach in the Far East and Aaron, Sally's son, would have been there.

He died in a fire at the family home in Lime Tree Grove, Rawtenstall, on August 7, despite Graham making five attempts to save him.

The couple do not want a burial because Graham said: "My beliefs are somewhat Eastern and fire is a traditional form of departure."

But they have to wait for the inquest into Aaron's death so they can hold a cremation and they said shortly afterwards they would be flying out to Thailand with Aaron, three, to be married as planned.

Then in a private ceremony they will scatter his ashes into the sea so he can be with the water and fishes he loved.

They do not want cut flowers at the funeral because Graham said: "There has been enough death." People can bring living plants or make a donation to charity. Since the fire, the couple have been staying with family in Merseyside.

Graham said: "As soon as we can get our act together, we will be going out. We would like to come to terms with the tragedy before we go out and maybe some friends will be coming with us."

The couple plan to remember Aaron with a tree planted at the East Lancashire Railway where he loved to go and see the trains. They are also hoping a bench might be put there so people can sit and watch the engines -- just as he loved to do. Aaron had attended Flying Start Nursery in Rawtenstall, where staff have spoken of the toddler's love for Thomas the Tank Engine.

Graham said: "In his short life he brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people. He was a beautiful child with so much depth and understanding in his eyes, it was very intense.

"He communicated with his eyes more than with his mouth and was a well behaved, serene, peaceful child."

In May, the family, including grandparents, went on a holiday of a lifetime to Sri Lanka, when Graham said they packed more experiences in than most people have in a lifetime. At home he loved his cat Suzy, his tropical fish, music and dancing, trains and motorbikes.

He had a trike which had been made to look like a motorbike and the family had planned to all go to a bike show the weekend after the fire, he would also have attended Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show next month.

They spoke of the fateful day when Aaron, 'Aaron cat' as they called him because he used to pretend to be a cat, was put to bed at 8.45pm and had been left to play in his bedroom before Sally was due to go in and turn off his computer and lights out.

Shortly afterwards, the couple were watching TV in their bedroom when they heard stones being thrown at the window and a neighbour shouting Graham.

He said: "When I looked out, the neighbour said the house was on fire. I told Sally to grab Suzy and Aaron and I ran out of the house."A lady pointed up to Aaron's bedroom and flames were shooting out and there was what looked like a river of black smoke. The fire was established.

"I ran back in and pushed past Sally as she was on her way to Aaron's room. I opened the door and I was knocked back two steps by the heat and smoke."

Sally grabbed a phone and went outside to dial 999 while Graham took a fire extinguisher from downstairs and tried to get back in. He then put a water-soaked rug over his head, but it proved too heavy. Time and again he tried to get back in. Then and while he was searching for a gas mask to make another attempt the electrics fused and the house was in darkness.

They have been told unofficially Aaron died from carbon monoxide poisoning and Sally is confident her son died peacefully.