A Winnie-the-Pooh cuddly toy used to promote Disney videos was withdrawn after a three-year-old North-East girl accidentally strangled herself on its straps, an inquest heard yesterday.

The mother of Ellie Lowes discovered her daughter hanging from one loop of the toy, which is carried like a rucksack, while another was caught on a cupboard handle, the coroner was told.

Ellie had been watching a video in her sister's bedroom and had probably tried to hang up the toy when she fell over on the bed and got her head caught in the strap.

Although the toy, distributed by the Buena Vista home entertainments company, complied with safety standards, child safety expert Dr Sara Levene told coroner Ian McCreath she did not consider it was suitable for children.

No members of Ellie's family were present at the hearing yesterday at South-East Northumberland Magistrates Court, but a statement from her mother, Melanie, was read out.

It said the girl, who leaves an older brother Jordan, nine, and sister Abby, 11, was playing alone in her home in Blackdene, Ashington, Northumberland on January 26 this year.

After half-an-hour Mrs Lowes went upstairs and found her daughter hanging.

She called her husband Trevor who attempted to resuscitate his daughter and the emergency services were called, but to no avail.

The coroner said no blame should be attached to the parents and expressed his sympathy.

He said: "What an awful sight her mother must have been confronted with when she went into the bedroom and found her hanging there."

Representatives of the video company, Buena Vista, and its supplier, PKA Distribution, were at the inquest to hear paediatrician Dr Levene say she did not believe the toy was "safe and suitable" for children because the straps were too narrow and backpacks should not be used as toys.

Information from the inquest will be considered at the next British Standards Committee meeting.

After Mr McCreath gave his verdict of accidental death, Northumberland County Council trading standards department said no further action would be taken.

Last night, a spokeswoman for Buena Vista said that an "encouraging" number of the toys had been returned since a Europe-wide recall last May.

Anyone who still has one can call the freephone helpline 0800 3893887.