Mother shocked of losing daughter 2 hold for her attempted murder

Tragedy: Jasmine Bellfield"s body was found by police

A mother was arrested following the death of her toddler daughter after apparently "flipping" over fears that social services were about to take the child away, it emerged yesterday.

Police forced their way into Sonia Bellfield"s home after being called by care workers concerned for the safety of her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Jasmine.

Officers found the little girl"s body inside and Mrs Bellfield, 29, was reportedly covered in blood, possibly from a failed suicide bid. Mrs Bellfield was said by friends to have been devoted to her daughter, but suffered from serious mental health problems.

Whatever the result of the criminal investigation there will also be a serious case review to look at the involvement of social and health care workers with the family.

Questions will be asked about their dealings with the mother and the ultimate failure to protect the toddler.

Neighbours believe Mrs Bellfield "flipped" because she was "petrified" of losing Jasmine.

The tragedy unfolded when police officers were seen knocking on her door in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, at around 2pm on Friday.

Mrs Bellfield split up from her husband Martin about a year ago and lived alone with her daughter.

One neighbour said: "They were at her door for ten to 15 minutes asking her to open it up. They said let us in and she said, "I"m poorly I"m going to kill myself". Then they threatened to break the door down."

Mrs Bellfield was later led away by two officers, with her hands "covered in blood". "She looked really white," said the witness. Paramedics ran inside to get Jasmine but came out grim-faced and shaking their heads.

West Yorkshire Police said a post-mortem examination carried out over the weekend was inconclusive and further detailed forensic tests were being carried out to establish the cause of death.

Police and forensics at the scene on Naylor Court, Dewsbury, where the two-year-old was stabbed

Friend and neighbour Janine Barraclough, 36, said social services threatened to take the child away around a month ago and Mrs Bellfield feared she could lose Jasmine.

She said: "She must have flipped. She was a good mum, a brilliant mum.

"That kid was so well looked after. She would want for nothing. Jasmine had lovely blue eyes and was well fed and clean. A lovely child.

"Sonia wrapped that child in cotton wool, when they played in the park out front she was always running behind her to make sure she didn"t fall down.

"She thought the world of that child and was a 100 per cent good mum but she suffered from paranoia and depression."

Another friend Helen Cocker said: "Sonia was a perfect mum and she would have given her last penny to you.

"If the ice cream van came she would buy every kid on the street one. She doted on her child, Jasmine was always in designer clothes."

A police spokesman said officers found Jasmine after being called to the house by health care workers.

He said: "Inside they found the body of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl and a woman was arrested at the scene.

"The woman we have arrested is the child"s mother. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."

Mrs Bellfield"s estranged husband refused to comment.