A 15-MONTH-OLD baby girl died in her cot after contracting meningitis, an inquest revealed.

Olivia Jade Clarke was found dead by her mother, Joanne Clarke, at the family's home in Miller's Close, Norton, on April 1.

A statement from Olivia's mother indicated that nothing could have led to her suspecting anything serious.

"The day before, she developed a runny nose - the rest of the family had a stomach upset so I suspected it had something to do with that," said Joanne in the statement to the inquest, held yesterday at Pickering Magistrates Court.

"She had been off her food - she had a bit of bread at breakfast but did not want lunch.

"She had a bit of a sandwich with me in the evening and then she was put to bed in her cot.

"I lay her on her stomach because she likes to sleep that way - she was big enough to turn herself over."

Joanne and her husband, Dave, went to bed at around 10.30pm, when she checked on Olivia.

"I went in and touched her face, which caused her to snuggle down and fall further into sleep," said Joanne.

The following day, a Sunday, Dave awoke at 6am to get up for work but did not check Olivia to avoid waking her up.

"I got up at around 9am and walked into Olivia's bedroom," said Joanne.

"She was blue... I tried blowing air into her lungs but she was not moving.

"I can't think of anything which would have led me to think there was anything wrong."

The ambulance arrived but it was clear Olivia had been dead for hours, the inquest heard.

A home office pathologist's report confirmed the cause of death had been in keeping with meningitis.

North Yorkshire coroner Michael Oakley recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

Updated: 11:23 Friday, August 10, 2001