A CORONER examining the death of a baby, who suffered brain damage at birth, has called in a team of detectives.

A major investigation has begun into the death of the four-day-old boy, who was born at Harrogate District Hospital in North Yorkshire.

Hospital managers also confirmed last night that they had "dispensed with the services" of the locum registrar who was on duty during the delivery.

An incident room has been set up, manned by a ten-strong team of detectives along with four Home Office staff and members of the North Yorkshire Police Family Liaison Unit.

An inquest into the death of Alfred Roland Martin - known as Alfie by the family - was opened and adjourned in Harrogate yesterday.

His parents - too distraught to face the media - were not present at the five-minute hearing, presided over by the deputy coroner for North Yorkshire's western area, Geoff Fell.

After the hearing, the man leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Mick Moore, confirmed that detectives had been called in at the coroner's request.

Det Insp Moore told the inquest that Alfie died as a result of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy - brain damage caused by oxygen starvation.

He had been transferred to Leeds General Infirmary but died on March 2.

Alfie's parents are not being identified. Det Insp Moore said: "The family are obviously extremely distraught and have requested they are left to grieve."

The chief executive of the Harrogate Health Care Trust, Mike Scott, said yesterday: "Alfie was born at Harrogate District Hospital on February 28 and subsequently transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, where he died on March 2, despite the best efforts of the Harrogate Special Care Baby Unit staff and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team in Leeds.

"The inquest, which has been opened today, will establish all of the circumstances surrounding Alfie's death and we will continue to co-operate fully with the coroner in his investigation.

"I can confirm that, following Alfie's death, the trust held an interim investigation which involved gathering evidence from doctors and midwives on duty at the time of his birth.

"As a result of that investigation we decided to inform the police and coroner's office - though I must stress that there is no suggestion of foul play.

"I can confirm that a locum registrar who was on duty at the time of Alfie's birth is no longer working with the trust and we have informed the General Medical Council."

The trust declined to elaborate on the identity of the locum or the reasons for his removal from the wards.

However, Det Insp Moore emphasised both the police and the health trust's investigations are limited solely to the circumstances surrounding Alfie's death.

The chief officer of the Harrogate and District Community Health Council, Mark Kennedy, said the watchdog group had been informed of the tragedy.

"We now await the outcome (of the investigation) and would look to be sure that, if there is anything to be learned from this, those lessons are taken on board," he said.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Phil Willis, has also asked to be kept up to date with the inquiry.

"The circumstances of this case must be fully investigated and we must leave no stone unturned," he said.