THE sudden death of a seven-year-old boy is being mourned by a Valleys community.

Tarian Hobbs, who lived in Gelynos Avenue, Argoed, died after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Now his parents Marcus and Nina are thanking people living in the village, and their son's school, Argoed Primary, for the help and support they receive.

Tarian was the apple of his parents' eyes, a devoted big brother with many friends.

And when his soldier dad served in Iraq, the seven-year-old became the "man of the house."

But two weeks ago Tarian suffered a brain haemorrhage and died.

Mum and dad, Nina, 25, and Marcus, 28, are grief stricken. The couple have another son Morgan, five, and 11-month-old daughter Caitlyn.

Tarian was playing on May 7 when he collapsed after being sick and complaining of a headache.

An ambulance took him to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, and Tarian was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff.

He suffered a cardiac arrest and died a day later.

"It happened completely out of the blue - we were told it was very, very rare in such a young child," said Mr Hobbs.

"He was born with his blood vessels like that and there was a two per cent chance each year it could have happened. There was no way of knowing about it."

Mr and Mrs Hobbs thanked family, friends and Tarian's school for their support.

"We have had so much support. We have had hundreds of cards," said Mrs Hobbs. They also thanked the doctors.

Mrs Hobbs added: "When his dad went to Iraq, he told Tarian he was the man of the house. Tarian said 'I'm the boss' and he did look after me. He was a real little man."

She said Tarian loved model cars, his X-Box and camping.

Mr Hobbs broke his leg in Iraq and came home six weeks earlier than planned.

"If I had come home on time it would only have been ten days before he died," he said.

More than 300 mourners attended the funeral at Bedwellty Church and pupils from Argoed Primary lined the streets around his home before the procession left.

They played the Titanic theme, My Heart Will Go On, and Welsh bagpipes sounded as Tarian was buried.

Head teacher Patricia Walters said: "Tarian was a very loved, valued and treasured pupil."