A BLACKBURN mum suffered the heartache of losing two babies before they had reached six months of age, an inquest was told.

The hearing was told that Latisha Lucy Farran was just four months old when she died as a result of what is commonly known as sudden infant death syndrome.

And the hearing was told that in 1990 Kerry Summers, of Douglas Place, lost a baby boy who was just nine weeks old.

The inquest heard that Latisha had been born a month premature, weighing just 5lb, but had made good progress and was a happy and contented child.

In October she developed a cold but was still eating well and Miss Summers treated her with Calpol to help her sleep.

"She had typical cold symptoms and also gave signs of teething," said Miss Summers.

On October 29 Latisha wasn't settled and Miss Summers kept her downstairs to sleep so that her partner could get a good night's sleep and then take over in the morning.

Latisha eventually went to sleep on the settee wrapped in a fleece blanket.

At about 8am Miss Summers became aware of her partner Richard Farran in the room holding Latisha and there was obviously something wrong.

Paediatric pathologist Melanie Newbold said that in the absence of any other findings she was left with what is commonly known as sudden infant death syndrome.

"It is not a very helpful term because it probably describes babies dying for a number of causes of which we have no knowledge," said Dr Newbold.

She said there was an increased incidence of sudden infant death where the baby was sleeping on a settee, particularly with an adult, and parents who smoked also seemed to be relevant.

She said there was no evidence of any connection between Latisha's death and that of the baby in 1990.

The medical cause of death was unascertained and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of natural causes.