A mother was arrested on suspicion of murdering her two young children in East Sussex, England. The bodies of the two children were found in the boot of a car in two plastic bags inside two large sports bags.

Three-year-old Harry Donnison and his two-year-old sister Elise were found just before noon on Wednesday when police broke into a silver Nissan in Mill Close, Heathfield, East Sussex.

A post mortem examination was being carried out today while the mother, Fiona Donnison, 43, awaited a series of police interviews about the deaths.

She was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital on Wednesday with “self-harm injuries” to her arms, and remains in a stable condition.

Ch Supt Robin Smith, of Sussex Police, said he could not disclose how the children died, but officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with their deaths.

She is believed to have sent officers to the car hatchback parked nearby.

The car was towed away for analysis and a cordon was in place round a three-storey detached house in Sheepsetting Lane with a “Sold” sign outside, close to where the car was parked.

Ms Donnison, a former Lloyds syndicate worker who also has two teenage sons, had recently moved to Surrey with her children after splitting from her partner.

Sussex Police have informed family members of the deaths.

Chief Superintendent Robin Smith told reporters: “At about 11am a lady came into Heathfield police station clearly suffering from some distress.

“As a result of what she said to us, members of my team were sent to a car. Inside the car, tragically and sadly, they found the bodies of two young children, we believe both under the age of five.”

It emerged today thatMs Donnison had another daughter, Mia, who died aged eight months, from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or cot death, in 2004.