Man, 47, arrested on suspicion of killing mum and young son in house fire horror
Relatives say they are "totally broken and distraught" by the deaths of Gina Ingles and her son Milo
DETECTIVES investigating the murders of a mum and her four-year-old son who died in a house fire have made an arrest.
Gina Ingles, 34, and Milo, four, died in a "horrific" blaze that completely destroyed their home and left her partner in a coma.
Gina's partner Toby Jarrett, 26, who was also in the house at the time, was taken to an undisclosed hospital with burn injuries and remains in an induced coma.
Cops arrested a 47-year-old man on Sunday morning on suspicion of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
The man, from Eastbourne, was arrested in the town at around 10.40am and remains in custody.
The fire broke out at around 1am in Croxden Way, Lower Willingdon on Tuesday last week.
The bodies of Gina and Milo were discovered in a first floor bedroom at about 12noon on Wednesday.
Their bodies have still not been formally identified, but police said they were "confident" it was Gina and Milo and next of kin have been informed.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Ashcroft, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts continue to be with the victims' family and friends.
"I am aware that this horrific incident continues to have a huge impact on the community.
"I am appealing to anyone who has even the smallest piece of information which they think might help us to find out who is responsible for committing this terrible crime to get in touch with us."
Relatives released a heartfelt tribute to Gina and Milo saying their family was "totally broken and distraught by the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, sister, auntie and cousin, and grandson and nephew".
They said Gina was a "kind and free spirited person with a big heart" and that Milo was "a beautiful little boy so full of fun and smiles".
They said: "Both Gina and Milo were our shining lights that brought love to us all. We are all trying to come to terms with this terrible loss and there is a huge hole in all of our lives."
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They said their love and thoughts went out to Toby, who was not Milo's father, but who they said he had "started to call Daddy".
A post-mortem carried out on Friday revealed Gina and Milo had died as a result of smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is currently being treated as arson. Police are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to report it online or call 101 quoting Operation Druffield.