A MURDER investigation has been launched following the death of a baby.

The five-month-old girl was found dead at a house on Farndon Road, Overpool.

Cheshire Constabulary has since arrested a woman on suspicion of murder and released her on bail. Senior officers say their enquiries are of a 'sensitive nature' and may take some time.

They have not yet formally identified the baby, who was found dead on Easter Sunday. A Home Office pathologist is currently carrying out a postmortem examination on the child.

Inspector John Martin, of Cheshire police's force control room, said officers were called to the address at 1.30pm on Sunday. He explained: 'We were called there to the report of the sudden death of a five-month-old baby girl. At 3.40pm that same day, a 26-year-old local woman was arrested on suspicion of murder.

'She has since been released on police bail.'

Inspector Martin added: 'Crime scene investigators and CID officers conducted enquiries in the area during that afternoon and evening.

'A Home Office post-mortem on the child will be taking place in due course.'

Normal procedure is that after a post-mortem has been carried out, an inquest into the death is opened and adjourned by Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg.