HEARTBROKEN parents of baby Calum Rain today told of their shock and devastation at his death just hours after he was put to bed for an afternoon nap.

Inquiries are still under way to discover what killed one-year-old Calum, who died in Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, after turning blue in his cot at home in Corporation Street, Clitheroe.

Mum Susan Rain had put him to bed only two hours earlier following a shopping trip and said he appeared normal despite suffering from a temperature the day before.

Mrs Rain, 28, said: "He was a beautiful, happy little boy who was always laughing and smiling.

"He was a little angel. He was just starting to walk and was such a cheeky little monkey."

Husband John Rain, 32, said: "I just can't believe that it could ever happen to us.

"I feel totally shocked and devastated." Calum, who loved playing with his three-year-old brother, Liam, had spent three days before Christmas in Queen's Park Hospital where he was treated for a high temperature and fever fit convulsions.

Mr Rain said he was an otherwise healthy little boy who never even suffered from a cold.

Mr Rain said: "He loved playing with balloons, and if there was a balloon in the room he'd always go and play with it."

More than 100 sympathy cards have arrived at the family's home.

Calum's funeral took place at St Michael and St John RC Church, Clitheroe, before he was buried at Clitheroe Cemetery.

An inquest has been opened by Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Andre Rebello and a post-mortem examination carried out by paediatric pathologist Dr Mellanie Newbold, who has taken various samples to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in an attempt to find out the cause of death.

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