A COUPLE were due to appear in court in Blackburn today to face charges connected with the death of their three-year-old daughter after a drugs overdose.

Natalia Mujahid, of Notre Dame Gardens, Blackburn, was taken to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, by ambulance early on Tuesday but died later the same day.

She is believed to have swallowed the heroin substitute methadone along with her brother Darnish, one. He is being treated at the hospital and his condition was improving today.

The children's mother, named as Taj Ali, 24, who worked at packaging firm Strategy in Padiham before the birth of her children, has been charged with the murder of Natalia and the attempted murder of Darnish. Their father, Asad Mujahid, 27, is accused of the manslaughter of Natalia and neglect of Darnish.