A 21-month-old baby died of an infection of the blood the day after being admitted to hospital with cold-like symptoms, an inquest heard.

Lucy Keenan, of Chaffinch Drive, Kidderminster, had a history of poor health, following an operation as a baby after being born with a small spleen.

Her parents took her to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after she developed the symptoms of a head cold on March 26.

Tuesday's inquest, at Worcestershire County Coroner's Court, in Stourport, however, heard her condition rapidly worsened. She died the following day.

Deputy Coroner Dr Nigel Garbutt said: "Lucy developed an illness that started just like a normal temperature but really became very unwell without showing anything obvious.

"She then got iller and iller very, very quickly. She succumbed and died within a couple of hours."

The cause of death was found to be septicemia - a blood infection - and Dr Garbutt recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.