Last Updated: Friday, 2 September 2005, 07:37 GMT 08:37 UK
Father's tribute to murdered son
James Brennan had been left with a family friend overnight
A father who found his son murdered at his home in Manchester has paid tribute to the six-year-old.
David Broomhead discovered James Brennan in a ground-floor bedroom of the house in Terrington Close, Chorlton, on Thursday morning.
A 25-year-old man was arrested a short time later in the Nell Lane area.
Mr Broomhead said James, who had been left in the care of a family friend overnight, was a happy and popular boy who usually came top of his class.
"James went to Chorlton Park Primary School and was due to go back on Monday," he said.
"He had lots of friends. James loved football, drawing and was a fantastic reader. He loved Star Trek, Stargate and Captain Scarlet."
Tributes were left outside the house in Chorlton
Greater Manchester Police said a 25-year-old was arrested and taken to a nearby police station where he was questioned on Thursday.
Police sealed off the spot where the man was seized near the Southern Hotel on Nell Lane - about half a mile from the boy's home.
Det Supt Martin Bottomley appealed for anyone who was in the area close to the house from 2000 BST on Wednesday to 0900 BST on Thursday, to contact police.
He said: "We believe he was killed in the house. The father left the boy in the care of a family friend.
"He is absolutely distraught and is being spoken to by specially trained officers.
"There is a lot forensic work and evidence gathering currently being carried out at the house. "
Detectives are trying to contact the boy's mother, who is believed to live in Ireland.
A post-mortem examination of James is due to be carried out on Friday.
BBC Manchester
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