Police have been granted an extension on their arrest warrant to continue questioning Ben Butler over the death of his six-year-old daughter, Ellie.

A post mortem examination is being held today and Mr Butler’s arrest warrant is due to run out this evening.

Your Local Guardian:

'Amazing' Ellie Butler

Former removal man Mr Butler, 33, is being held at a south London police station following the death of Ellie on Monday.

Witnesses described Mr Butler watching as paramedics tried to save her life after she collapsed in her home in the Shanklin Estate, Sutton.

Officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating her death - which police are treating as unexplained.

Ellie, described by neighbours as an "amazing" little girl, was seen being taken out of her home by paramedics on a stretcher.

Despite attempts to resuscitate her she was pronounced dead at hospital just after 4pm that day.

Ellie lived with her father, a former removal man, graphic designer mother Jennie Gray, 32, and her younger sister in the three-bedroom flat.

Most of the top floor flats were cordoned off on Tuesday while a police officer stood guard outside Ellie’s home and forensic officers carried out their investigation.

A large forensic operation was underway yesterday afternoon with officers searching through bins in Hulverston Close near Ellie’s home.

Officers on their hands and knees carried out a finger-tip search through the rubbish and one forensic officer even got inside one of the bins.

Shanklin residents expressed their shock at Ellie’s death with one neighbour describing it as very raw and another describing it as awful.

Flowers and a little Mickey Mouse toy were left in memory of the youngster outside her flat.

Marion Cook, 30, lives in the same block, and said: "Not two weeks ago I was in there. The poor little girl is gone. She didn’t have any life."

Your Local Guardian:

Forensic officers search the bins

TODAY'S TOP SUTTON STORIES