A mother has been detained under the Mental Health Act after admitting killing her five-year-old boy - who died after an horrific car blaze.

Tommy Sheldon suffered 65% burns in the fire in Merdon Castle, Hursley, Hampshire on August 11 last year.

He died from his injuries a fortnight later in hospital.

Now his mum, Teresa Sheldon, 38, who had been charged with his murder, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Her plea was accepted by the prosecution at Winchester Crown Court, and she was detained under a hospital order imposed by the judge Mr Justice Dingemans.

Sheldon, of Leyton Cross Road, Dartford, also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of another person, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The prosecution asked for that charge to lie on her file.

"How this affected the family of this little boy I can only imagine, it's absolutely terrible" - DI Simon Baker

Speaking after sentencing, Tommy's father and family said in a statement: "He was always full of smiles and laughter, a loving caring happy-go-lucky beautiful little boy who we will always remember."

It comes after the fire in the Ford Fiesta was discovered by two passers-by, with emergency services declaring the scene a major incident.

Police, fire crews and the Hampshire the air ambulance attended.

Tommy was taken to Southampton General Hospital before he was transferred to a specialist burns unit in Bristol.

Detective Inspector Simon Baker, of Hampshire police, said: "How this affected the family of this little boy I can only imagine, it's absolutely terrible."

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