COLCHESTER'S top police officer has paid tribute to a little boy who died after an incident at a department store.

Colchester District Commander Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston and Police Constable Carly Mond, of the Colchester town centre team, attended the funeral of Freddie Farrow on Friday with permission from the family.

Many people with Essex Police have been affected by the tragic incident at Fenwick Colchester which led to the five-year-old's death last month.

Freddie died on August 2, six days after a mirror fell upon him inside the store.

Essex Police officers, along with medics and store staff, helped administer first aid to Freddie at the scene before he was flown to hospital.

Chief Inspector Huddleston said: “Today, the thoughts of everyone at Essex Police are with the family and friends of little Freddie Farrow.

“So many of us within the organisation have been affected by this tragedy, from those officers who responded to the incident in Colchester High Street on July 27, to those who initially took on the investigation before it was passed to Colchester Council.

“Essex Police is a force which values family and everything that goes with that and today we hope Freddie’s mum, dad, brother and sister can find some comfort in the support which the wider Colchester community has shown over the last month.”

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Residents raised almost £11,000 for the family following the tragedy.