A COLOURFUL Disney-themed funeral saw hundreds of people celebrate the life of a Basildon boy who 'never stopped smiling' despite his battles against chronic, debilitating illness.

Five-year-old Noah Cox-Lee, who died on 17 May, was born with a genetic mutation and spent most of his life in and out of hospital with the rare neurological condition FOXG1 syndrome.

His mum, Channell Cox-Lee, 27, said: "Even with all that going on there wasn't a day that he didn't smile,."

Noah was a fan of Disney cartoons – with his favourites including Moana, Cars, Stitch and Encanto – and Disney was the theme for his funeral on Friday.

Scores of bikers provided an escort to the funeral cortege, after word spread on social media, with members of the Thurrock Bikers group accompanying the hearse to Basildon Crematorium.

Mrs Cox-Lee said she and her husband Terence Cox-Lee, 29, were "so appreciative of everyone getting involved".

"Honestly, it's absolutely amazing," she said. "Being our little boy, you want to give him the world. The fact is we can, and everyone's come together to give him that.

"Even though it's turned our world upside down and we're so heartbroken, the fact is everyone's got together to celebrate his life and all we've ever wanted is for him to be remembered.

"For everyone to come together and celebrate what he was, no matter what he went through he was always smiling through it.

"Sometimes it puts it in perspective.

"You can be having such a bad day over something so little, but he was going through so much and yet he never let it affect him."

Mrs Cox-Lee, who is a full-time carer, said there "wasn't a day where he wasn't smiling".

She said that Noah was in a wheelchair and had "such low muscle tone he couldn't move his body, he couldn't walk, he couldn't hold his head, he couldn't sit up".

"He was fed completely through a peg," she said. "He couldn't take anything orally. He suffered with gastro issues, with swallowing issues, his vision was affected as well.

"I think that's where his love of Disney came from because of the bright colours. The music, the songs, anything like that. He was very cheeky as well.

Noah Cox-Lee, with his mother Chanell, left, and his brother Leo and sister Kaitlyn.

"If he didn't have his Disney or something on the TV that he wanted he would basically start mumbling and making noises until you did put it on for him."

She said his favourites were "basically all the musicals".

"He was such a delight," said Mrs Cox-Lee.

"He would just smile and it would brighten up your day."