A TOP children's hospital has launched an internal inquiry into the death of a baby from Blackburn.

Alder Hey Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust has also referred the death to the city's coroner, Andre Rebello, who is the former coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

A spokesperson for Alder Hey said: "The Trust can confirm that the death of a child at Alder Hey has been referred to HM Coroner.

"The hospital is also conducting its own internal inquiry.

"For reasons of patient confidentialty we are unable to comment further."

It is understood that the inquiry began after the child's death within the last few days.

Mr Rebello, who still lives in Blackburn, was chosen to take over in Liverpool as one of only 26 full-time coroners in the country in July, 1999.

When he was appointed to Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, aged 37, he was the youngest of 140 full and part-time coroners in the country and, in 1999, at the age of 41, was the youngest full-time holder of the office.