AN inquest opens today into the death of a child who should have celebrated her fifth birthday yesterday.

Kaynat Akhter died after her clothes caught fire when she got too close to a gas fire at about 4pm on Saturday.

The inquiry into the death of the Green Lane Primary School pupil, who lived in Emerson Avenue, Middlesbrough, Teesside, will be opened at Teesside Coroner's Court.

Kaynat came from a large Asian family, who were yesterday said to be too upset too talk about the tragedy.

Detective Sergeant Colin Galloway, who has been supporting the Akhters, said Kaynat was their youngest child.

"Kaynat was doted on because she was the baby of the family and this was a tragic accident, which could have happened in any household," said Det Sgt Galloway, of Middlesbrough CID.

"It is a terrible time for all of her relatives at the minute and obviously our thoughts are with the family."

Firefighters resuscitated Kaynat and paramedics took her to Middlesbrough General Hospital, before she was transferred to the specialist paediatric intensive care unit at Newcastle General Hospital. She died there early on Monday.

Her death has come as a terrible shock to everyone who knew her.

Det Sgt Galloway said: "The family are trying to come to terms with what has happened but when anyone dies it is obviously very traumatic. "