THE long-awaited inquest of baby Toby Woods has been postponed, it was revealed today.

The inquest had been set down for a two-week hearing in front of a jury at the request of Toby's father, Robert Woods, of Pendle Street, Accrington.

But officials say his mother, Donna Hanson, is ill and the inquest will be rescheduled for later in the year.

Four-month-old Toby died in September 1999, nine months after his 10-month-old brother Ashley.

A verdict of natural causes was recorded at the inquest into Ashley's death but the inquest into Toby's had to be adjourned several times to allow the police to conduct an investigation after Miss Hanson was arrested on suspicion of their murder.

Her four-year ordeal only ended in August when police announced they would not be bringing charges against her.

Among the witnesses set to attend the inquest was controversial medical expert, Prof Rory Meadows.

Toby's father said it was Prof Meadows' report to the police that sparked the investigation, and insisted he should be called to give evidence.

The professor was also involved in the investigation into Cheshire solicitor Sally Clark, who was finally acquitted of killing two of her children in January 2003 after spending more than three years in prison.

During that case he told the original trial jury the chances of two cot deaths in the same family were 73million-to-one. But experts have since said the chances are 8,500-to-one.

Toby's inquest was scheduled to start on Monday at Accrington Town Hall. No new date has been set.

A spokesman for the coroner's office said the inquest had been postponed because Miss Hanson was ill.

Detective Inspector Jim Elston, of Blackburn CID, said: "It has been adjourned as a result of an application by Toby's family and I understand the case will be rescheduled for later in the year."