'We can't grieve properly until we know how our Lila died'

Tragic girl passed away while sharing bed with mum

- PAIGE OLDFIELD

THE inconsolable mother of a five-year-old died who unexpectedly has spoken of her 'horrendous' nightmare.

Lila Marsland was found unresponsive by her mum Rachael on the morning of December 28.

The pair had been sharing a bed together at the time.

An ambulance was called but the 'amazing' little girl was pronounced dead at the scene, just two weeks before her sixth birthday.

Now her heartbroken family have spoken for the first time about their devastating loss - saying they don't yet know how Lila died.

"I woke up and she was dead next to me," mum Rachael Mincherton, 36, told the M.E.N.

"I rang for an ambulance but she had been dead a few hours.

"They gave her CPR; they arrived within minutes but it was already too late. It's horrendous. I still can't believe it's happened."