Heartbreaking tributes at funeral for mum and 3 children killed in Bootle house fire

Heartbreaking tributes at funeral for mum and 3 children killed in Bootle house fire Elisha Brabin, along with three of her children, Leo, Ellis and Prudence were all at home on Stone Square in Bootle when a fire caused by an e-scooter battery engulfed the property The grandparents of the three children who died alongside their mum in a house fire in Merseyside shared a heartbreaking tribute as the four have now been laid to rest. Elisha Brabin, along with three of her children, Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, were all at home on Stone Square in Bootle when a fire broke out at around 3.45am on September 22. Relatives described the children as "our beautiful babies" at the time of the tragedy. The family home was "well alight" when emergency services arrived at the semi-detached house and the bodies of four people were found in an upstairs bedroom. Investigators have since revealed that the blaze was caused by a lithium-ion battery from an electric scooter. Today, the mother and her three children have been laid to rest as hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects, Liverpool ECHO reports. As the cortege arrived at Thornton Garden of Rest, grandparents to the children, Bob and Zaz Stephenson, read out a statement to mourners. They said: "Today our families come together for the funeral of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence Brabin. After many difficult weeks, it means a great deal to be together to remember them and say the hardest goodbye. "We would like to thank everyone who has shown such kindness over the recent weeks. The messages of support and the knowledge that so many people have kept us in their thoughts have brought us all real comfort. "We are also deeply grateful to the emergency services for their efforts, and to those individuals who have continued to support us throughout this time. We now have to begin rebuilding our lives. We’ll do that slowly, looking after one another along the way. "Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence will be missed every day and our love for them will continue." The cortege set off from Bradford Road via Marsh Avenue, making its way past the family home where the blaze broke out. People lined the roads as the procession made its way into Thornton where mourners gathered for the ceremony. Four horse drawn carriages arrived at the crematorium and a cloak of silence remained outside. Mourners gathered in their dozens close to an hour before the coffins arrived in the carriages to pay their respects. The sun beamed down, with tears shed quietly by those who gathered. Family members were joined by friends and members of the community. Representatives of the fire service, along with representatives from each of the three schools attended by Leo, Ellis and Prue also paid their respects. An inquest opening at Bootle Town Hall last week heard coroner Anita Bhardwaj tell the short hearing the deaths were "unnatural" before adjourning the proceedings until April 22, 2027. A family tribute shared following the deaths said: "Our whole family is devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence. "Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunty, niece and cousin. She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us. "Our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family. They filled our lives with laughter and precious memories that we will cherish forever. "The tragic loss of Elisha and our three precious children has left us heartbroken. They have all been taken from us far too soon. The loss we are experiencing is unimaginable, and the impact on our family will be felt forever. "As we try to come to terms with this devastating tragedy, we kindly ask that our family's privacy is respected whilst we grieve and support one another through this incredibly difficult time. "We would like to thank everyone for their kindness, support and understanding."