THE parents of a four-month-old baby which died suddenly have been charged with neglect.

Liam Atherton was found by his parents on the morning of January 13 at their home in Leicester Road, Blackburn.

He was not breathing and they called 999.

Liam was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation was launched by Eastern division’s public protection unit.

On Friday, Liam’s mum Anne Patricia Turnbull, 28, and father Matthew Atherton, 21, were charged with child neglect.

The charge spans the length of Liam’s life, from August 23, 2010, until January 13, 2011.

A post-mortem examination at the time did not reveal any significant injuries.

An inquest earlier this month ruled that his cause of death was pneumonia.

The couple, who have two other children, have been bailed to appear before Blackburn magistrates on August 1.

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