FURTHER medical tests have been ordered to try to find the cause of the sudden death of a four-month-old baby girl.

Layla-Mai O’Malley-Shearer, who was born on October 5 last year, was with her mother Georgina O’Malley and father Andrew Shearer at around 10.35am on Saturday when it was realised all was not well with the infant.

An inquest was been opened yesterday to establish the circumstances of the tragedy.

A report read to Burnley coroner Richard Taylor said that the baby had been found lifeless by Mr Shearer on the settee at Miss O’Malley’s home on Russell Terrace, Padiham.

Emergency services were called immediately and Layla-Mai was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital but nothing could be done to save her.

A specialist paediatric pathologist, Dr Stephani Bitetti, from The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital undertook an initial post-mortem examination.

He has requested further medical tests in an attempt to establish the cause of death.

Speaking on Tuesday, friends of Layla-Mai’s family said she had previously been ‘happy and healthy’.

Georgina’s friend Sophie Duckworth, 19, described her as “a normal, sweet, beautiful and happy little girl” and said “the whole situation is heartbreaking”.

She added that family and friends were planning to hold a fundraising event in memory of the youngster, to be held at Koko’s in Burnley on Sunday.

A target of £4,000 to £5,000 has been set, with the money going towards a memorial headstone and a donation to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome charities.

Burnley funeral directors Alderson and Horan said their services as undertakers will be given free of charge to the family.

Staff at the Koko’s have already promised to give the venue for free and donate their wages for the evening.