MYSTERY surrounds the death of a 13-month-old baby in Moreton-in-Marsh on a hot July night last year, an inquest heard today.

Charlie Stephens, of Church View in Aston Magna, was asleep on a sofa in the living room of the family home on July 25 while his father Christopher was also sleeping downstairs, Gloucestershire Coroner's Court heard.

In a written statement, Mr Stephens said: "Charlie drifted off to sleep and I went to sleep on a sofa.

"Ula Jedryka, my partner, came down at midnight to ensure we were both ok and then she came down again at 5.20am to wake us up.

"Charlie had a blanket over his head and Ula screamed and started to shake him.

"He was covered in red blotches.

"It was a very hot night and it was cooler downstairs and we had opened three windows to let the air go through."

The inquest then heard that Charlie had been smiling that day and Ula had taken photographs of him and he had been eating well.

Detective Sergeant Katy Miles, the investigating officer, said that Charlie had no external injuries and there were no suspicious circumstances.

A health visitor also reported no concerns as to the baby's well-being.

Assistant coroner for Gloucestershire David Dooley said: "A post mortem said that the cause of death could not be ascertained but there was a possibility that the blanket made Charlie too hot.

"I am afraid we do not know how Charlie came to die and there is no evidence of an unnatural death.

"This was a tragic scenario and I can only offer the family my condolences."

He recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.