A couple have been arrested for allowing their 11 year-old son’s weight to balloon to 15 stone.

Police were alerted by doctors who treated the youngster twice in one month and were concerned for his wellbeing.

The parents of the 5ft 1in boy were arrested and questioned in March on suspicion of child neglect and cruelty.

Police last night confirmed the couple were now on bail.

They are reportedly in danger of losing custody of the boy to social services.

The parents, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, told the Sun that their boy’s weight gain was genetic and they have tried to keep his size under control.

His mother, 43, said: ‘The idea that they could take away my son scares me so much. I’m nothing without my kids. I am chubby and the whole of my husband’s side of the family is big. It’s genetics. You can be genetically fat.’

Despite being nearly three times the recommended weight for a boy of his age and height, the child’s mother said his weight does not worry her, and said he was affectionately known as ‘wee chubby’. 

She said: ‘His weight isn’t that much of a big deal. He uses a Nintendo Wii to stay active and is on a strict diet.’

Fears over the boy’s health were first raised by teachers at the specialist school he attends for his autism.

The parents have already signed a care agreement with social workers. If they break it, legal proceedings will be started to take the child into care, it was reported.

The boy’s father, 49, said: ‘He’s always been big. He was born with shovels for hands and spades for feet. Everyone on my side of the family is big there’s nothing we can do about it.