A fingertip search has been carried out at the home of a three-year-old boy who died following reports of a medical incident.

Forensic crime scene investigators were at Bracken Court in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, on Friday morning combing through grass in the front garden of the family home.

A team of specialist officers also worked inside the house and have been seen removing items in evidence bags.

The Northern Echo: Forensic investigators at the scene in Ushaw Moor Forensic investigators at the scene in Ushaw Moor (Image: Northern Echo)

Read more: Emergency services called to medical incident in Ushaw Moor

Officers have been guarding the property since a major emergency service response was launched on Saturday, November 5, at around 4.15pm.

Paramedics from North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance tried to save the toddler and he was taken to hospital where he later died.

The circumstances surrounding the boy’s death remain unclear, but it is understood a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

The Northern Echo: Specialist officers search the garden Specialist officers search the garden (Image: Northern Echo)

Durham Constabulary has said a police inquiry is underway as part of a multi-agency investigation.

The boy’s death, and the high level of police activity, has come as a shock to residents in the former pit village who said the street is normally quiet.

Retired mental health support worker Christopher Cassidy said: “It was on Saturday afternoon. I was watching the football and I thought: ‘What’s going on out there’.

“The ambulance landed just over the way. It’s obviously something major but what it is I could not tell you.

“There has been police cars out there during the night so they are obviously keeping an eye on the scene.

“They have been out there everyday since in their white overalls so they are forensics I presume.

“It is sad with it being a young lad.”  

The Northern Echo: The property was searched on Friday morning The property was searched on Friday morning (Image: Northern Echo)

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Bus driver Stephen Gill, 64, has lived on the street for almost 40 years.

He said: “The police came an interviewed us on Sunday.

“They said there had been an incident but they were not prepared to go into details.

“There have been forensics here every single day. There have been police cars parked outside the house 24/7. There is always someone there.

“It horrendous. It is horrifying to think something has happened on your doorstep.

“For something like this to happen just blows your mind.”

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