TODDLER Humayra Ainarkar, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, lost her fight for life after being struck down by a chest infection, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that the two-year-old had developed a metabolic disorder when she was one and, less than a year later, had been admitted to Manchester Children's Hospital with a viral illness that affected her brain.

When she contacted a chest infection that developed into bronchopneumonia, she was unable to fight back.

Dr Anna Kelsey, who carried out a post mortem examination, said a child of Humayra's age would not normally die of the viral infection.

"The illness last year had left her neurologically disabled, which may have made her prone to getting more infections," said Dr Kelsey. "Because she was debilitated from previous illnesses she succumbed to the infection."

Recording a verdict of natural causes, coroner Michael Singleton said it was tragic that a little girl should lose her life so young.

"It seems that she suffered two serious illnesses both of which levied a heavy toll," said Mr Singleton.

"When she developed a chest infection she was unable to fight it and developed bronchopneumonia which proved fatal."