THE severely epileptic child who had his cannabis medicine confiscated by the Home Office will remain in hospital after a string of life-threatening seizures.

Billy Caldwell, 12, was admitted to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London on Friday after his seizures "intensified", a family statement said.

His mother Charlotte told Sky News she was "absolutely devastated" that her son's "brutal condition" had "returned with a vengeance", adding: "He's a beautiful, sweet, innocent wee boy who doesn't deserve this callous treatment." She has said the Home Office will be held accountable if he dies, calling its actions "beyond cruelty".

Caldwell had a batch of medicinal cannabis oil taken from her at Heathrow Airport on Monday after a flight from Canada.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We are deeply sympathetic to the extremely difficult situation that Billy and his family are in.

"Billy is in the care of medical professionals who are best placed to assess the care and treatment that he requires."