A community will be offered help and support after the shock news that a four-year-old boy was killed in his home on Sunday morning.

Bradford Council plans to speak to residents in the Bracken Bank area and offer counselling after the death of Riley Turner.

Police were called to Harewood Road at 4.40am on Sunday following reports of the death of a child. The boy was taken to Airedale Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A 32-year old man was later arrested in Ingrow on suspicion of murder. The man, yet to be identified, remained in police custody last night.

West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major enquiry team began a post mortem investigation yesterday, and have yet to officially reveal the cause of death.

Police remained at the house yesterday, and despite the treacherous weather grieving neighbours had come out to lay flowers and stuffed toys on the doorstep of the property, which was home to Riley, his brother Kenzie, mother Sharon Smith and stepfather Guy Earwaker, 22.

With the community still coming to terms with what happened, Bradford Council has offered sessions where residents can come together to talk about the tragedy.

And nearby church St John’s has also offered support.

Rachel Kirke, wife of Reverend Clive Kirke, said: “The church will do whatever we can to support people affected by this and offer any help. We have the family in our thoughts and prayers.”

Riley is believed to have attended Worth Valley Primary School. The school was closed yesterday because of heavy snow, but the council plans to offer counselling to pupils if needed once it re-opens.

Coun Jan Smithies, of Braithwaite Village, said; “We are working closely with the police who have been excellent. We will be getting out and giving some clear messages - letting people know that police have arrested someone so they feel assured they can go out and feel safe.

“We are trying to work with the school in terms of how they will support other children and families when the school reopens. We will speak to people and offer re-assurance, help them deal with the shock and upset. If people need it they will be offered professional help.”

Coun Smithies will today be in Bracken Bank Community Centre for much of the day if people needed to talk. She added: “If people want to gather together then we can offer the community centre as a place people can talk and maybe sign a condolence book. People will want to know what they can do to help the family so they can come together and talk about that.”

She said they would give people as much information about the incident as they could, but this would be limited by the police investigation.

* A story in yesterday’s Telegraph & Argus reported that people in the community had named Riley’s twin brother Kenzie as being the victim. We apologise for the error and any distress that may have been caused.