THE family of a baby who died while asleep in his mother's arms will never know the cause of his death, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told how Louise Claire Cheetham awoke early on the morning of June 6 to find her four-month-old son cold.

She told the hearing that after she managed to finally get Keylem Christopher Burnett to sleep she fell asleep beside him on the settee.

Louise, 18, of Cog Lane, Burnley, said Keylem was having trouble settling during the night.

In an attempt to comfort him, Louise put him on the settee on his back with a blanket up to his shoulders.

In a statement to police Louise said: "I curled up around him to stop him falling off, leaving him in his own space before falling asleep.

"I woke up and he was still lying on the left side. I had my right hand over his ribcage. I felt him and thought he felt cold. The room wasn't too warm, there was nothing covering his face and he was still in the same position but he didn't move.

"I contacted the ambulance after trying to resuscitate him."

Dr Melanie Newbould, a pathologist at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, told the hearing that despite carrying out all the necessary toxicological tests she was unable to ascertain a cause of death.

The family said they were hoping the inquest would help them find the answer as to why baby Keylem died.

Louise added: "I was hoping we might find out what really happened."

Coroner Richard Taylor added: "We have no idea as to how and why the baby died which leaves me little option but to return an open verdict."