AN inquiry has been launched following the death of a 19-month-old girl from methadone poisoning due to her mother's "gross negligence".

Sadie Milson took her mother's heroin substitute on more than one occasion over five months before she died on March 11.

Her mother, Fiona Milson, 33, of Malton, North Yorkshire, is awaiting sentence for manslaughter after pleading guilty at Leeds Crown Court.

Tests on strands of Sadie's hair showed she had taken methadone a number of times.

Sadie was not on the social service's "at risk" register, and an investigation has been launched by the Area Child Protection Committee.

Its inquiry will examine the roles of each agency connected with the case.

The chief executive of the local primary care trust, Michael Whitworth, said: "It will be looking at what went wrong, if anything, and what recommendations can be made.

"This review has the powers to order investigations and if there are criticisms to be made, it can make them."

A spokesman for the Area Child Protection Committee said a statement would be issued when Milson is sentenced, due later this month.