We want to keep Lila's light bright

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

- PAIGE OLDFIELD

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 it’s believed the “amazing” little girl had been gone for several hours. Tragically, Lila 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,” Rachael Mincherton, 36, told the Manchester Evening News. “I rang for an ambulance but she had been dead for a few hours.