Funeral for Spain death children

The funeral of two children who were found asphyxiated in a Spanish hotel room has taken place.

Rebecca Smith, five, and her 11-month-old brother Daniel were buried during a small, private ceremony in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava.

Their mother, Lianne Smith, 43, has been charged with their murders and was not allowed out of jail to attend.

Representatives of the town's civic administration and British consular officials were present at the funeral.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Rebecca and Daniel's parents authorised a local funeral director to make funeral arrangements.

Mrs Smith was formerly a manager at Cumbria County Council's children's services department but did not work directly with youngsters.

She moved to Staffordshire with her daughter, before the family left for Spain, where the couple's son was born.

Her husband Martin Smith, originally from North Shields, North Tyneside, was extradited to the UK from Spain in May.

He appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on Monday on unrelated child sex charges.

The 45-year-old entered no plea and was remanded in custody, with a provisional trial date set for November.

The couple's children were found dead at the Hotel Miramar in Lloret de Mar on 18 May.

Post-mortem examinations established that they had died of asphyxiation.