AN inquest has been opened and adjourned into a pregnant mum who died after falling down the stairs at her home.

The hearing at Burnley Magistrates' Court was told Deborah Carroll, 33, was rushed in hospital after developing back pain. She later underwent emergency surgery and her child, a boy, was delivered stillborn.

Coroner's officer, Bob Wilson, said Mrs Carroll, of Branch Road, Burnley, was admitted to Burnley General Hospital on March 4. At the time she was 35 weeks pregnant.

Mr Wilson said a post mortem examination had been carried out but by Home Office pathologist Dr John Rutherford but test results were needed before the cause of death could be ascertained.