THE mother of a boy who died after he was pulled from a burning car near Winchester has been charged with his murder.

Teresa Sheldon, 38, has appeared at Winchester Crown Court to face charges in connection with the death of her five-year-old son Tommy Sheldon.

Tommy died two weeks after suffering serious burns in the blaze in Merdon Castle Lane in Hursley on August 11.

The remote lane was the scene of a major incident for the emergency services with police and fire crews all called just after 8pm, including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

It was two passers-by who were first on the scene to help rescue Tommy.

They described coming across the fireball on their way to a fishing trip and seeing a boy inside the burning Ford Fiesta car.

As reported by the Chronicle at the time, the pair braved the intensity of the flames and managed to open one of the doors of the car to reach Tommy who was inside.

The youngster was treated at the scene before being taken to SouthamptonGeneral Hospital and on to a specialist burns unit in Bristol.

His mother was also taken to hospital for treatment for injuries she sustained.

Despite the best efforts of medics Tommy died from his injuries on August 25.

An appeal in his memory was subsequently set up by Hursley residents. All monies collected from the appeal were being donated to the Bristol Children's Hospital where the five year old was treated.

Following Tommy's death, detectives from Hampshire police's major crime team launched a murder inquiry to establish what caused the fire and subsequent death of the five year old.

As previously reported an inquest was opened in September by Central Hampshire Coroner Grahame Short which was adjourned while the murder investigation, codenamed Operation Ursa, was under way.

That probe has resulted in Sheldon being charged with the youngster's murder along with unlawfully killing him.

She first appeared before Basingstoke magistrates before the case was adjourned to Winchester Crown Court.

Sheldon, who gave her address as being in Dartford, Kent, also faces a charge of the attempted murder of another youngster, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The 38-year-old was remanded into custody during the hearing at Winchester Crown Court before Judge Keith Cutler, Recorder of Winchester.

She is due back before the courts in June.