Police investigating the murder of an 11-year-old boy in an arson attack on Wearside are examining a tin of lighter fluid found at the scene.

Dean Pike died in the blaze at his home in Mordey Close in the Hendon area of Sunderland, early on Friday.

His pregnant mother Janine Dodd, 29, was badly hurt after jumping from a window to escape.

Today, detectives said the tin of lighter fluid had been sent to forensic experts for analysis.

A man found the yellow tin of 100ml Swan "Extra Refined" lighter fluid in a nearby rear garden shortly after the fire.

It has sent it for analysis to the Forensic Science Service in Wetherby. Results are not expected for several weeks.

Apparently on June 21 a man entered a shop in the Sunderland area trying to buy lighter fluid, however he was not sold any because the premises did not stock it.

Detectives want to hear from any other retailers in the Sunderland area who may also have been asked within the past two weeks whether they sell any lighter fluid or a similar substance.

They also want to be contacted by any premises in Sunderland which sell 100ml tins of the branded lighter fluid with a batch number of 5A20.

Det Supt Barbara Franklin, who is leading the murder enquiry, said: "We believe this is connected with the crime, however tests are still being carried out to confirm that.

"We are optimistic forensic evidence will be secured from this tin, but this process takes a considerable length of time.

"I want to reassure retailers we are not interested in taking action against any premises which, for example, may have sold any to someone underage. Our investigation is focused solely on solving Dean's murder.

"Inquiries so far have revealed this tin of lighter fluid is stocked by a large number of premises, however sales of it are very rare. For that reason, we think if someone has sold any or been asked to sell any then they should remember it happening."

Police have criticised a wall of silence from the local community.

Ms Dodd, who remains in a stable condition in Newcastle General Hospital, has yet to be told that her son died in the fire.

Rumours that the incident is linked to other murders on Wearside have also been quashed by Northumbria police.