THE EXACT cause of death of a little boy who died two weeks after he was pulled from a burning car will need more investigation, an inquest has heard.

The hearing into five-year-old Tommy Sheldon’s death opened yesterday in Winchester, during which the coroner was told that more investigations were needed to determine exactly what killed him.

As previously reported, the youngster became the centre of a murder investigation when he lost his battle for survival, having suffered serious burns in the burning car.

Brave passers-by risked they own lives to save Tommy, who they saw trapped in the back of the car in Merdon Castle Lane, in Hursley.

Alan Beusmans and his son William leapt into action and managed to release the boy from the Ford Fiesta by forcing open the door of the burning vehicle, while the woman and young girl stood by the side of the car.

Tommy’s mother, 37, and his sister, six, also suffered serious injuries in the incident, which happened on August 11.

Despite Tommy being transferred from Southampton General Hospital to a specialist burns unit in Bristol, he died on August 25.

No arrests have been made and mystery still surrounds the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation.

Detectives are conducting a range of enquiries to establish how it started and all options are being considered, including whether the fire was started deliberately.

The children’s father is not a suspect in the investigation. Officers have already confirmed the incident was not “random” and that they are not looking for anyone in connection with the blaze.

At the opening of the inquest, coroner Grahame Short adjourned the hearing to allow for investigations to continue.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hampshire Major Investigation Team, quoting Operation Ursa, on 101.