NOTHING could have been done to save a four-year-old boy who died in foster care, a coroner has ruled today (January 21).

Post mortem tests have shown that Jonas Stadden died of natural causes.

His parents, Haydn Stadden and Sara Russell, of Taunton, had demanded answers after Jonas's death at Musgrove Park Hospital, on November 24.

Jonas, who had Down's Syndrome, had been taken into foster care outside Taunton seven months before that for reasons that cannot legally be reported.

West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose has issued a statement today saying: "A post mortem...revealed that Jonas died of bronchopneumonia and under part II - (illness or disease not directly attributing to the death - Down's Syndrome.

"This is of course a natural form of death, but investigations have subsequently been carried out to ascertain whether or not an earlier referral to a doctor would, in the circumstances of this case, have made any difference to the outcome - but I am advised that would not have done so."

The findings mean there will not be an inquest.

Mr Stadden said: "Jonas had pneumonia twice before and pulled through, so this is very upsetting.

"I don't know what we're going to do next."

A Somerset County Council spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened by Jonas's death which has had such a big impact on everyone he came into contact with.

"We understand the cause of death to be natural causes.

"We have complete confidence in the foster carers who looked after Jonas who are expeirenced specialists in looking after children with disabilities.

"They acted totally apporpriately and are deeply upset by his death."