THE people of Southend are being urged to come out in force and give Archie Battersbee “the best send-off ever” after his heartbroken family confirmed plans to hold his funeral in the city. 

The 12-year-old will be laid to rest during a service at St Mary’s Church, in Prittlewell, on September 13.

His mum Hollie Dance has called on supporters and well-wishers to come together and give her beloved son a final send-off. 

She told the Echo: “The service is public and then the burial is private for just close family and friends, with invite-only.

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“I would love everyone who supported Archie to come to the public service, and give my boy the best send-off ever.

“We also will be having his wake at the vigil tree in Priory Park for anyone that would like to attend.

“A bench for Archie’s friends will be put in on the day at the play area of Priory Park too.

“Thank you again to Archie’s Army and everyone who has supported us, it means the world.”

Ms Dance says the dress code for the funeral is black with purple accessories, such as a flower, ribbon, or tie.

She has described arranging Archie’s funeral as “soul-destroying” but remains determined to do her son proud. 

She added: “I am still absolutely broken.

“I have lost my best friend, my companion, my 24/7 sidekick, my heart, and my soul.

“Archie was really the life and the heart of the whole family.”

She added: “Having to pick a coffin for your child, and then driving past people seeing them holding their child’s hand, is heartbreaking, knowing I am never going to be able do that again.

“My heart goes out to any parent that has had to do it.”

Hollie and Archie’s dad, Paul Battersbee, both fought a long-running legal battle to keep their son on life-support after he was found unconscious at his home in Southend on April 7. 

A judge based in the Family Division of the High Court London ruled doctors could lawfully stop providing life-support treatment to the youngster, with experts declaring him “brain-stem dead”.

Archie’s life-support treatment was withdrawn on August 7, with his family confirming his death hours later.