MYSTERY surrounds the death of a baby boy who fell asleep with his mother in her bed, an inquest heard.

The hearing at Burnley Magistrates' Court was told how the healthy three-month-old infant, Matthew Mark Howorth, appeared lifeless and floppy when his mother woke four hours later.

A pathologist had been unable to say for sure how the child died but added it would be inappropriate to conclude he died of sudden infant death syndrome, commonly known as "cot death."

Acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor recorded an open verdict on the youngster, of Belgrave Road, Colne, who was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at hospital, on February 13.

The night before he died, the baby woke about 11pm and his mother took him downstairs, fed and changed him and put him in his cot.

At 7am, he awoke and his mother picked him up, put him in her bed and mother and son fell asleep. Matthew was between his mother and his cot, which was next to the bed.

The hearing was told about 11am that morning, Matthew's mother woke up and found her son lifeless. She tried to get him to respond, but he was floppy and very pale and an ambulance was called. The baby was taken to hospital and shortly after arrival, the staff told his mother Matthew had died.

Home Office Forensic Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson performed a post mortem on Matthew on February 15 and found he had no injuries or natural disease. The doctor said he ordered a number of other tests and every one was negative. Matthew was a healthy, well nourished baby of normal size for his age.