Company boss's wife held on suspicion of murdering three-year-old daughter

The wife of a  chief executive has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the couple's three-year-old daughter in their country home.

Bethan Colebourn is thought to have lived with her teacher mother Claire,35, in a converted bungalow in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

Her father is thought to be Michael Colebourn, 37, the chief executive of Trimline, a highly regarded interiors firm in Southampton. 

The young girl was treated at the bungalow on the edge of the New Forest and then flown by air ambulance to Salisbury District Hospital, Wilts, in a life threatening condition.

Hampshire Constabulary said the toddler later died at the hospital and a 35-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of her murder on Friday.

Friends of the family said the​y​ believed Bethan's parents had recently separated.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he visited the family's converted bungalow in Fordingbridge, Hants, last Christmas for drinks.

He said the Colebourns were both living there at Christmas, but has "not seen much of them since".

The shocked neighbour said: "I cannot believe what has happened.

"Claire and Michael were nice people, and they had a lovely little girl called Bethan.

"I was shocked when I saw the ambulances and police cars outside the house last night."

Bethan's aunt Lindsay Colebourn, 35, who lives in Gillingham, Dorset, told the Daily Mail: "It is obviously a devastating time for everyone. That's really all I can say. 

"As her father, Michael is devastated and is on his way to the family home. It's such a tragic event."

Mr Colebourn graduated from the University of Southampton with an accounting and finance degree in 2003 and joined Trimline in July 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The company generated revenues of almost £40million in its latest financial year.

A dog trainer who two years ago trained a spaniel owned by Mrs Colebourn speculated that she may have split from her husband recently.

The man, who did not want to be named, added: "I saw the mother, Claire, and the little girl out recently and they looked happy and I said hello."

A spokeswoman from South Central Ambulance Service said an adult patient was also treated at the scene but not taken to hospital.

The spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that South Central Ambulance Service was called to an address in Fordingbridge at 18:46 last night.

"We had two ambulance crews, ambulance officers and an air ambulance on scene assessing and treating two patients.

"One adult patient was assessed and treated at the scene and not taken to hospital and one young child was assessed and treated at the scene and taken to Salisbury District Hospital in a life threatening condition."

A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were called to an address in Whitsbury Road, Fordingbridge, shortly before 7pm yesterday (October 19) following a report of a concern for welfare.

"Officers attended along with colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service.

"A three-year-old girl was taken to Salisbury District Hospital and was pronounced dead later in the evening.

"Police are making enquiries into the circumstances of the girl's death

"A 35-year-old woman from Fordingbridge has been arrested as part of our enquiries."