First picture of mother who 'killed herself and disabled daughter' in car fireball

Ms Pilkington is thought to have killed herself and her disabled child Francesca by deliberately turning her car into a fireball.

They burned to death when the Nissan Micra was engulfed by flames after apparently being soaked in petrol and set alight.

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The pair, of Bardon Road in nearby Barwell, were found dead after police received a report that a car was on fire in a lay-by off the A47.

Francesca, who was known to her family as Frankie, suffered from severe learning difficulties.

Post mortem examinations carried out yesterday confirmed detectives' beliefs that no-one else was involved in their deaths, said Leicestershire Police.

Detective Superintendent Chris Thomas said: "Following the results of yesterday's scene examination and the post mortems we are satisfied that we do not need to look for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

"Our beliefs that this incident was a tragic case of murder and suicide have been borne out by the initial results but the ultimate decision clearly remains a matter for the coroner.

"The loss of loved ones in these circumstances is extremely distressing and our thoughts are with Fiona and Francesca's family at this time."

The fire was so ferocious that detectives had to rely on DNA tests to establish who they were, but relatives were traced yesterday through identification of the car.

In a statement issued through police, Francesca's grandmother, who does not want to be named, said: "As a family we are completely devastated by our loss.

"We are struggling to come to terms with what has happened and would like to be left alone to grieve in private for Fiona and Frankie."

A file containing the results of the police investigation will now be prepared for the coroner.

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Yesterday the truck driver who alerted police told how he woke to see a wall of fire after the car slowly rolled along a remote lay-by and hit his vehicle.

Stewart Bell, 57, said: "The car was completely engulfed by the fire. There was no way anyone could have survived."

The Micra had pulled into the lay-by off the A47 near Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, at 11.15pm on Tuesday.

It is believed Ms Pilkington may have chosen the lay-by as it is shielded from the road by trees and probably appeared completely empty. But once her car was on fire it rolled down an incline and hit Mr Bell's lorry.

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He added: "Because you're worried about thieves, you always sleep in the truck with one eye open, so the bump woke me up straight away.

"I opened my eyes and just saw a big sheet of flame shooting up the windscreen.

"I got out of my sleeping bag as quickly as possible and jumped into the driver's seat, because I thought someone had set fire to my wagon.

"But when I got into the seat I realised there was a car in front of me.

"It was a total inferno, so I just slammed the wagon into reverse."

Mr Bell, a lorry driver for 33 years, added: "I moved back about 20 yards before I dialled 999. There was nothing else I could do."

"I was told she might actually have tried this kind of thing before and that they found a petrol can between the two front seats.

"They seem to think she pulled into the lay-by, splashed petrol about and lit it, but they don't know if the engine was still running at the time."

Detective Superintendent Chris Thomas said: "It was quite a horrific scene that faced the fire service when they arrived."