Details of a mother’s frantic attempts to save her three-year-old daughter found dead at home after being put to bed with a suspected cold were heard by an inquest today.

Ellie Walker’s mother Andrea Walker, of Bar Lane in Riddlesden, Keighley, told of the harrowing moment she realised her little girl had died when she went to wake her up on January 14, hours after putting her to bed.

After tests, the medical cause of Ellie’s death was recorded as streptococcal septicaemia blood poisoning and the verdict recorded by the Assistant Deputy Coroner, Dominic Bell, was death by natural causes.

The inquest heard how Ellie had a bath the evening before and was put to bed at 6.15pm. Her mother went to check on her at 10pm.

But when she returned at 8am the next day, she found her daughter blue and cold in bed with a rash on her chest, so tried CPR.

In a statement read out by the coroner’s officer Malcolm Dyson, Mrs Walker said: “I had no concerns when I took her a drink at 10pm and she went to sleep.

“The next morning I found her and she was freezing cold and I knew straight away she was dead. I noticed a rash on her upper chest.

“I was frantic and devastated and knew my little princess was dead. Ellie had a cold and no medical problems. It was an unexpected death and I had no idea why this has happened.”

The inquest heard how Ellie was born four weeks prematurely and spent time in a Special Care Baby unit, but developed normally.

Mr Bell offered his condolences to the family. He said: “You have my sympathy because this will be distressing and will bring distressing memories back.

“There were no suspicious circumstances in relation to Ellie’s death.

“You, Andrea, discharged your normal responsibilities as a parent.

“There was no evidence that Ellie was displaying any features at that point that warranted any healthcare practices.

“No-one could have foreseen what happened. The only positive finding from a range of tests was that of invasive group A streptococcal infection in the lung, trachea and bloodstream.”

Mrs Walker paid tribute to her daughter after the inquest. She said: “Ellie was chirpy and chatty and loved Peppa Pig. She was a typical three-year-old. I will always love her until my dying day.

“She was always talking and inquisitive and asking me things and loved gardening. Ellie was lovely and made a lot of people happy and touched a lot of people’s hearts.”