A BABY has died after his mother fell asleep with him on the sofa at their home.

Detectives were called to a house in Cog Lane, Burnley, early yesterday after the 15-week-old boy was taken to hospital.

Officers are not treating the death as suspicious.

Police said the 17-year-old mother, who has not been named, is believed to have fallen asleep on the settee with young Callem Burnett.

The young mum woke up at around 4am and grew concerned when her baby failed to respond.

She took the baby to Burnley Hospital where doctors pronounced the infant dead.

Inspector Richard Clare said: "We were called to an address in Cog Lane on Sunday at around 4.40am after the young child had been taken to hospital by the mother.

"There is nothing suspicious about the death at this moment in time. The baby doesn't appear to have any injuries to its body. It just seems as though this has come about as a result of extremely tragic circumstances."

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out at the Royal Manchster Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, today before an inquest is conducted by coroner Richard Taylor.

Neighbour Mary King, 48, of Cog Lane, spoke of her upset after hearing about the baby's death and said: "This is a tragic thing to have happened, especially as the girl is so young herself. It seems as though it has just been a tragic accident.

"I feel so sorry for the mother."

Baby dies

on sofa