AN INTERIM hospital order issued to a 17-year-old boy who hurled fire bombs onto a motorway has been extended.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Nicholas Elger, who can be named after reporting restrictions were lifted, admitted two charges of arson recklessly endangering life in December.

During an incident on the M3 on September 23 2017, the teenager threw flammable material as cars passed under a bridge.

Bomb disposal experts were called and a stretch of carriageway was closed for 11 hours, causing traffic chaos. The total cost to the economy is estimated to be some £40 million.

Elger also admitted burglary and blackmail against public school Winchester College, which he attended as a boarder, and two charges of theft.

Judge Keith Cutler ordered that the teenager be treated and assessed at a psychiatric hospital.

On Friday, the case was listed at Winchester Crown Court again. Prosecutor Martyn Booth said: "[Doctors are] working towards a meeting in July in what they hope to achieve with this particular defendant, if anything."

Extending the interim hospital order for an initial extra 28 days until June 15, Judge Cutler said: "There is a quite of lot of work going on, with some areas of concern."

The judge indicated that the court could be in a position to sentence the defendant in July.

At the March hearing, Judge Cutler described Elger as a "dangerous young man".