Jen, I believe she can be detained for an initial 12 hours for questioning, without being formally charged or arrested, but police can apply for a further 12 hour extension for further questioning.

You know it's easy to blame this on neglect or mistreatment, but it could be that it's been some awful tragic accident and the mother has panicked and tried to cover it up.

That's what my OH and I were saying last night.  She could be just covering up the fact that she murdered him BUT there's the small chance that it could have been a tragic accident....maybe caused by one of the other children or maybe she is suffering PND and in a clouded moment did something awful  Either way, by not reporting it and making up the whole story, wasting police time and resources, she has made the outcome for herself much, much worse.

i have friends that live in the house opposite all this. They said there were reporters knocking on their door but as they knew nothing they shut their curtains and kept themselves to themselves. They have 2 young girls who keep asking what's going on and they've tried to explain but are finding it hard

Hi Cags - it must be hard, I keep wondering how they explain to his brothers and sisters.    As has been said though, we don't know what happened - although it's not looking good for his mother no matter how it happened.

Yes and it seems that he may have been 'missing' for weeks. As I understand it he hasn't been seen since before Christmas.

Heartbreaking .........I really find it hard to read/hear about stuff involving small children but can't help myself.

Sounds a bit like the Casey Anthony case (re the time scale and all that).

They didn't know the family personally. They said the media circus has died down now. Helicopters and press have gone. He takes his dogs into those woods everyday and then onto the beach. God knows how you explain that to the siblings 

I read the wee lad was a twin. 

He has a twin sister.

Those poor policemen and women who had to do the search...and the chief constable, clearly upset, who had the job of informing the awaiting press reporters.  The audible gasp when the news was broken was heartbreaking.  All hope erased at that moment 

The gasp was very touching 

10 o'clock news. Mother still being questioned 

Police told BBC, they hope to issue an update within the next half an hour 

Live statement now... 33 year old woman arrested and charged.

Mothers been charged 

Jeeze.. I feel for that policeman.  What a day he's had.   

its all very sad...sometimes I can't get my head around things like this 

It's incomprehensible sometimes isn't it 

He was obviously very affected by everything that had happened. Policemen have to deal with some very harrowing things.