A woman has appeared before Blackburn Magistrates' Court today after being charged with the murder of a 10-month-old baby.

Karen Foster, who was working as a childminder at the time, was also charged with assaulting a three year old child causing her actual bodily harm.

Police charged Foster, 61, following a lengthy police investigation after the nine-month-old's death more than a year ago.

Foster, of Walden Grove, Burnley, is charged with the murder of Harlow Collinge on March 5, 2022, and assaulting the other child causing actual bodily harm on March 22, 2022.

She was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court where she is next due to appear on Friday, July 7.

Foster spoke only to confirm her name and address.

Police were called at around 1.20am on March 1, 2022, to an address in Hapton following reports a baby boy had suffered a medical episode.

Emergency services attended and the child, aged nine-and-a-half months, was taken to hospital for treatment, but he died on March 5.

His family continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

Foster is not related to either of the two victims and the two children are not related to each other.