A mother, accused of squeezing her baby to death in Blackpool, has been cleared of murder.

Laura Langley, 38, was alleged to have killed her seven-week-old daughter Edith who collapsed at the family home in Blackpool on November 20, 2020.

The emergency services were called after reports Edith had stopped breathing.

Efforts were made to revive him at Blackpool Victoria Hospital but she was pronounced dead shortly after.

Ms Langley was charged with murder after it was discovered Edith reportedly had 33 rib fractures.

Ms Langley went on trial last October last year accused of murder and child cruelty before a jury was discharged so that the expert evidence could be reviewed.

On Monday (November 18), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case before the start of a scheduled retrial.

A CPS spokesperson said: “This is a deeply tragic case at the heart of which is the death of seven-week-old Edith.

“In every case, we keep the evidence under review throughout the criminal process and if new facts emerge we take these into consideration.

“We took the decision to prosecute this case based on expert evidence.

“Following a review of new, additional expert evidence, we have concluded there is no longer a reasonable prospect of securing a conviction. On that basis, it was right for us to end the proceedings.”