BONNY baby Jennie Walsh died in her mother's arms on the night of her christening. She was just ten weeks old.

The cause of her death on June 4 still remained a total mystery, an inquest in Burnley was told yesterday.

Despite extensive tests, no cause could be found to explain her death, Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler told parents Donna and Derek Walsh.

Mrs Walsh, of Leyland Road, Burnley, told the inquest that her daughter Jennie Christine Harriet was born on March 23 and was a normal healthy child with no major problems.

She had a crib in their bedroom but never slept in it - she spent the nights with them in their bed.

She was christened at St Mary's RC Church, Yorkshire Street, Burnley, on June 3. A photograph of her had been entered in a bonny baby competition.

After the baptism, members of the family attended a celebration at the Foresters Arms pub, Todmorden Road and a number of people cared for Jennie during the day.

Mrs Walsh she and her husband got home at about 2am. Her brother Matthew Bell had just fed and changed her and she was asleep in her pram.

She carried her upstairs and the three of them went to bed. She had Jennie with her asleep in her arms.

The following morning she woke up at 8am. Jennie was still in her arms but she knew something was very wrong. She remembered her feeling cold on her arm. She ran to a neighbour's still carrying Jennie and phoned for an ambulance. Her husband confirmed Donna's evidence. He agreed both had had quite a lot to drink. When they got home Jennie was carried up into bed and they fell asleep almost immediately. The next thing he knew was his wife saying there was something wrong with the baby.

Det Sgt Steve Mounsey said police had investigated. Both parents had a lot to drink at the christening but at no time considered themselves of being incapable of caring for the child.

There was no cause to pursue criminal charges of any nature.

Dr Lawler conducted a post mortem, helped by experienced child pathologist Dr Melanie Newbould. He said there were no injuries, no congenital abnormalities and no biochemical or bacteriological cause.

He said: "Despite a very detailed examination and wide ranging tests no abnormality had been found to explain Jennie's death. No adequate or pathological cause was found and there fore he had to conclude that the cause of death could not be ascertained.

In answer to Mrs Walsh he said epilepsy was a possibility. It could occur with no structural abnormalities as it was an electrical disturbance in the brain.

Recording an open verdict, acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor expressed his sincere sympathies to the parents and family. He said they had been left with no explanation for for Jennie's death.