THE mother of a baby killed in an arson attack on their home has been arrested in connection with the boy's murder.

Danielle Wails, 21, was taken into custody yesterday by detectives investigating the blaze at the weekend.

News of the arrest came as police revealed that they had found closed-circuit television pictures which showed two men near the scene at the time of the fire.

Detectives refused to identify the suspect, but The Northern Echo understands it is Ms Wails, and she was questioned yesterday over the death of her son, Alexander Gallon.

Another woman, also in her 20s, who had been arrested earlier in the inquiry, has been bailed, but she is not thought to be a suspect.

Early indications from tests are that Alexander died from a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning and burns.

It is understood that the post-mortem examination revealed there were no injuries to the four-month-old boy.

Ms Wails said two intruders dressed in black barged into her home in Links Road, Cowgate, Newcastle, on Sunday night.

She told police she had been punched and kicked unconscious in the kitchen and dragged into the lounge, where Alexander was lying crying on the settee.

The thugs were said to have bound her hands in front of her with telephone cable and started a fire in the lounge.

Ms Wails told police that she came round in a smoke-filled room and made a desperate attempt to save Alexander, who was lying on the floor, but the flames beat her back.

It was said Ms Wails had dialled 999 with her tongue. Firefighters arrived and forced in the front door and she tumbled out.

Ms Wails was released from hospital on Tuesday and went to an undisclosed address, known to the police.

As police stepped up the hunt for the alleged intruders, it was revealed that CCTV footage showed two men on the corner of Link Road and Whitehorn Crescent at 10.30pm on Sunday.

Detective Superintendent Barbara Franklin said there would be a "rigorous investigation" to find those responsible, and urged the men to come forward.

Last night, it was revealed that Ms Wails had only been living in the two-bedroomed house for a fortnight.

Det Supt Franklin said it was too early to say what was the exact seat of the blaze, but it was likely to have been started on the settee.

The officer said at a Press conference: "It is difficult to comprehend the wickedness of someone who could do such a thing."

Ms Wails had been recovering with relatives and being comforted by Alexander's father, Robert Gallon, also 21.

Alexander was the couple's only child, and although they are not together, Mr Gallon played an active part in bringing up his son.

Ms Wails's parents, David, 53, and Carol, 39, were said to be devastated by Alexander's death.

Ms Wails has two sisters, Jemma, aged 18, and Jade, 15, and brothers Carl 17, and Kyle, 13.