A Chessington man accused of trying to kill his two autistic sons was a "caring and loving father", the Old Bailey heard today.

The 47-year-old man allegedly strapped his children, aged five and six, into a car and drove to a remote country lane in Surrey.

There he doused them in diesel and hit the eldest boy with a car jack, but did not go through with starting a fire.

Summing up for his defence, Miss Diana Ellis QC said the evidence showed nothing more than preparation.

She said: "He was a caring and loving father who did not on April 6 go beyond preparation of the offence.

"He pulled back and came to his senses and so we ask you the jury to return a verdict of not guilty".

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not take to the witness stand during the trial, but his defence claimed this should not be held against him.

Miss Ellis added: "The evidence from the prosecution does not describe more than preparation and therefore speaks for itself."

But Judge Wiggs in his summing up said: "You may think he has no answer or none that can bear examination but cannot convict him wholly or mainly on that.

"You must not reach a verdict because it might be hard on one of the children in the future."

The defence do not dispute the prosecution evidence that the man flagged down a passer-by and said: "You've got to come, I've hurt one of my kids. I have tried to commit suicide".

But it is claimed he had a change of heart and that the evidence put before the jury is merely preparatory.

The dad, a house husband who worked part-time, had been married to his wife for eight years.

On the night of the attack, the boys' mum told her husband she "hated him and didn't want to be with him".

The man denies two counts of attempted murder.

The trial continues.