Parents have paid tribute to their baby son who died after suffering a severe head injury.

Four-month-old Thomas Preece, of Sonning Common, was taken to Reading’s Royal Berkshire Hospital last Monday with life threatening injuries.

He was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, but died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Thomas’ parents, Andrew and Hannah, said last night: “Thomas was our life. He was our pride and joy.

“Words cannot express the loss the whole family are feeling. Thomas was loved so much by so many and was the best thing that happened to us.

“We would like to thank all of our family and friends for all the help and support they have given us at this time.”

A 24 year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and released on police bail and Oxfordshire County Council’s social services department has been alerted to the death.

Det Insp Kev Elkins said: The post mortem, which was carried out on Friday concluded the baby, Thomas Preece, died of a head injury.

“This result requires us to carry out further investigations to determine the circumstances of how Thomas received the injury and could take several months.

“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Thomas’ family and friends.”