THE parents of a tragic twin girl today said they still dreamed about the precious milestones she will miss in life -- like walking her down the aisle.

An inquest heard that six-week-old Ellie Houghton died of pneumonia on March 28 at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

Parents David Houghton and Deborah Hutchinson, of Swallowfields, Pleckgate, Blackburn, today said they felt "just so unlucky" to have had her at all.

Ellie died on the first day she had learnt to smile and weighed just over six pounds. She was found collapsed and had stopped breathing but efforts to revive her were in vain.

"It all needs to sink in," said Deborah, 27. "We are still so glad we had her in our life. She has changed us forever even though she was here for such a short time.

"It has been a complete shock but there is no control over these things.

"At first there were these two babies that burst onto the scene. I can't helping thinking you take them for granted thinking they will be there for ever.

"As time goes on it actually gets harder because you realise she is not coming back and we won't see her again."

Her twin brother Jude is said to be "romping away." Ellie suffered some difficulties when she was born weighing just 3lbs 12 ounces and was treated at Queen Park Hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit for two weeks before being allowed home.

Dave said: "Ellie was the quicker one and we thought she would do everything first. But now he has started taking on some of her traits. He pulls faces like her now.

"I can't help thinking though that she was daddy's girl and I still think about what it would be like to have walked her down the aisle or told her she could not have gone out with a boyfriend in town."

Deborah added: "We pictured them both learning to walk together, their first days at school or their 21st birthday. I feel for Jude and I hope when he reaches milestones in his life they will not be tinged with sadness."

Coroner Michael Singleton took time during the inquest to investigate the possibility of the sudden illness happening again but said there was no reason for concern.

Dr Melanie Newbold, paediatric pathologist at Royal Manchester Hospital, told the inquest that the pneumonia had probably been caused by a bacterial infection. She also ruled out any other possible causes of death.

She added there was nothing that appeared to have made Ellie "especially vulnerable."

Mr Singleton gave a ruling of death by natural causes and said: "I offer my sincerest condolences over the loss of this little baby.

"It is a loss that you will never be able to come to terms with rather I hope you will have a very happy family in the future and not forget, but put this loss in some kind of context that allows you to move on."