The funeral of the tragic four-year-old boy who lay dead in his cot for 21 months after being starved to death by his mother can now go ahead.

Bradford’s Acting Coroner, Professor Paul Marks, today opened and closed the inquest into the tragic little boy, whose mother Amanda Hutton was jailed for 15 years this month after she was found guilty by a jury at Bradford Crown Court of the manslaughter of Hamzah Khan and of the neglect of five more of her children.

Hamzah’s mummified body was discovered in a travel cot in his mother’s bedroom by police in September 2011 - amost two years after he died.

The inquest hearing means Hamzah's body can be released for burial to his father Aftab Khan, who attended along with officers who carried out the investigation.

Prof Marks said: "In view of the fact that the criminal trial has ventilated all the material relevant to this case, my actions will consist of opening this inquest and I will also release the body to the next of kin, to father Aftab Khan with a funeral by burial.”

He said that the case did not have to be brought back to inquest because all relevant facts were already recorded.

Prof Marks passed his condolences to Mr Khan.

A serious case review, an independent investigation into Hamzah’s death, is continuing.