A BBC Breakfast guest fought back tears in emotional scenes following bittersweet news in the aftermath of her teenage son's death.

Ellen Roome appeared on Tuesday's (December 30) edition of the programme, after being awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours.

She received the recognition for her work promoting children's online safety - after her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, passed away three years ago. 

In 2022, Jools was found dead in his bedroom after taking his own life but a coroner was unable to confirm if he was in a suicidal mood before his death.

His mother Ellen, from Cheltenham, said Jools did a 'lot of online challenges' and fears he fell victim to a 'dangerous' one such as Blackout which linked to the deaths of dozens of young people.

She has since been campaigning for 'Jools' Law' - which would allow parents to access the social media accounts of their children if they died. 

BBC Breakfast guest Ellen Roome fought back tears while discussing the 'bittersweet' honour of receiving an MBE

She received the honour for her work promoting children's online safety - following her own 14-year-old son Jools' death three years ago

Ellen appeared on Tuesday's (December 30) episode of Breakfast, speaking to Nina Warhurst and Ben Thompson

Discussing the MBE, presenter Nina Warhurst said to Ellen: 'You've described it as a bittersweet moment, which is understandable, and I'm sure your mind then went to your son. Just talk us through that.'

To which she replied: 'I never started my campaigning for any kind of recognition.

'It started with wanting answers for my son and then I met all these other bereaved parents.'

Ellen continued, with her voice becoming emotional: 'I'm going to get emotional, I knew I would.

'All those parents want answers as well and it became a bigger issue.

'Then, it became learning about how harmful online social media data can be for children. 

'I just couldn't stop, I've been shouting, and I guess someone has listened. It's been emotional.' 

Ellen went on to add: 'I've been in parliament when my change didn't go through with the data use and access bill, and then I thought, 'I can't get moving'. I think that's been hard.  

'We haven't got there yet. In the House of Lords in January, it's being discussed to add to the crime and policing bill that when a child dies, their data is preserved.

'That's my ultimate goal, I really think it forms so much part of the evidence when a child does, potentially, that it should be there.