Pair charged after death of child who ingested methadone

Two people were charged last night in connection with the death of a two-year-old girl in the UK who had ingested methadone.

Barry Jones (aged 41), and Michelle King (aged 29), both of Jameson Street, Blackpool, were charged with causing or allowing the death of a child by means of an unlawful act contrary to Section 5 of the UK's Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004.

They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Blackpool Magistrates' Court today, Lancashire Police said.

The force said that toxicology tests showed Sophie Jones had ingested methadone, but that the cause of her death was not yet known.

The charges come after Sophie was taken to hospital from her home in Blackpool on Tuesday night.

She died later at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.