A FUNDRAISING event for a memorial to a six-month-old who unexpectedly died in his sleep is to be staged in Hyndburn tomorrow.

Residents of Clayton-Le-Moors have been invited to the pub family day to raise cash in memory of baby Lucas Wheatcroft who died earlier this year.

Mum-of-four Jane hopes as many as possible will come to the Old England Forever Pub, in Church Street, on Saturday to remember ‘baby Lucas’.

Her husband Luke and their four other children aged between 18 months and seven hope to raise £3,500 for a fitting headstone for Lucas, who was almost seven months old when he died in March this year.

Mrs Wheatcroft, 26, said: “He was beautiful, a bouncing baby who smiled so much.

“He was poorly on the night and we had all been ill with flu.

“He had a little bit of a temperature, but that was the only indication.

“He fell asleep and did not wake up again which was a massive shock.

“After tests, nothing came back to say that there was anything wrong with him.

“We are devastated because we do not know why he has died.”

She said the ‘whole community’ in Clayton-le-Moors got behind the family after their tragic loss.

She and Luke, 34, chose the Old England Forever to host the event as the owner John Hodgekiss is a family friend.

The family day, between 2pm and 6pm, will feature a bouncy castle, face painting, waxing, and characters Rapunzel and a Dalmatian.

There will be stalls selling bric-a-brac and an England stall, music, raffle, tombola, barbecue and outdoor games.

Mrs Wheatcroft said: “It is not just us organising this event, it is the whole of Clayton.

“I cannot thank people enough for all they have done.

The couple, who met on holiday in Cumbria, moved to their current Moor Street home, Luke’s home town in 2007.

Mrs Wheatcroft said the family had seen a ‘beautiful’ headstone with a love-heart design costing £3,500.

She said: “We don’t want just any one.

“We want something that is extra special and we would like a big photo of him on it.

“If we can, we would like words on the headstone saying how beautiful he was.”