A BABY died after his head caught in the hood of his pram and he was accidentally smothered.

The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Lewis James Archer emerged at an inquest yesterday.

Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter told the hearing at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court there was no clear clinical cause of death, but he said the eight-month-old's death was consistent with smothering.

Lewis's mother, Lorraine Moody, told South-West Durham coroner Colin Penna that she had left the child in his pram at her house in South Church, Bishop Auckland, for the night because he did not like to sleep in his cot.

She said she had put him down at about 9.50pm and she had fallen asleep on the couch.

Miss Moody said she checked the baby when she awoke at about 6am then went to bed leaving the youngster asleep in the pram downstairs.

She said she checked him again at about 10am when her other son woke, then went back to sleep.

When she checked on him at about 11am the youngster had somehow got his head caught in the hood of the pram and had stopped breathing.

Health visitor Christine Hall told the inquest she had paid frequent visits to Miss Moody and her two sons, because the young mother was finding it difficult to cope after her partner John James Archer, from Spennymoor, died in a road traffic accident, aged 20. She said social services and other agencies had also been called in to offer additional support.

The health visitor was asked by Lewis's uncle, David Archer, whether it was common practice to leave a baby in its pram overnight. She said no, and that she had advised that Lewis should sleep in his cot.

Detective Inspector Ted Edgar said that the police had found no suspicious circumstances in the baby's death.

Mr Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death