A grieving mother wept as she spoke for the first time of the death of her 12-year-old son.

Mother Christine Bangs only discovered 12-year-old Anthony had died when she travelled to Blackpool to bring him home to Brighton after Christmas.

The 36-year-old distraught mother said the news of his death was broken to her by his brother when she arrived at Blackpool coach station.

Her son, known as Tony to the family, had travelled to Blackpool for Christmas and was due to return to Devonian Court, Brighton, with his two brothers, Peter, 13, and John, ten, for the New Year celebrations.

But Tony's body was found in a house in Enfield Road, North Shore, Blackpool, last Thursday.

His father, Henry Bangs, is under arrest at Blackpool in connection his death and medical experts are making a decision on whether he is well enough to be questioned.

Mother Christine said her eldest son Peter had been forced to break the tragic news to her.

She said: "He told me Tony had been excited. He was looking forward to seeing his mum. He was a happy little boy.

"I have tried to understand it but it goes round and round in my head.

"Tony had everything to live for. He was the sort of boy who would do anything for anybody.

"He loved everybody and everybody loved him.

"I miss him so much. I would give anything to have him back. I love him so much.

"You always think that you will die before your children - I would give anything to change places.

"If I didn't have the others I would take my own life. I've got them to live for.

"I am going through hell at the moment, with my family."

Tony was a pupil at Hove Park School.

A week before his school broke up for Christmas holidays, teachers had sent home a certificate praising him for being well behaved and setting a good example to others.

Before the tragedy the family had lived in a hostel in Blackpool but when the parents split up last year Christine moved to Brighton with Tony.