A 12-month-old baby girl died after being taken to hospital with "unsurvivable head injuries" said to have been caused by a "fall" at a house, an inquest heard.

At the opening of the inquest into the death of Orianna Crilly-Cifrova this morning, Rochdale Coroner's Court heard that the baby girl had been at a property in Radcliffe when she fell down some stairs.

Emergency services were called and Orianna was rushed hospital with serious head injuries.

Despite undergoing surgery the 12-month-old later died at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Following Orianna's death, her mother Chelsea Crilly, aged 19, of Warwick Road, Atherton, has been charged with causing or allowing the death or serious harm of her daughter.

Jaime Chadwick, aged 21, of Cross Lane, Radcliffe ­— who is not the baby's father ­— has been charged with murder.

The pair both appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court on October 22 but entered no pleas.

They were both remanded in custody and a provisional trial date has been set for March 23.

At the inquest opening today, Police Coroners Officer Paul Lever told that court that Orianna had been born on September 28, 2018, in Bolton and lived in Atherton. Her father is a valet and her mother has never worked.

"The circumstance surrounding Orianna Crilly-Cifrova's death are that on October 16, 2019, she was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after being transferred from the Royal Bolton Hospital," Officer Lever added.

"It is believed she had fallen down stairs and after a change in her demeanour an ambulance was called.

"She was taken for treatment at the Royal Bolton Hospital before being transferred to Manchester. She had serious head injuries and was taken to theatre for surgery."

Following the surgery doctors came to the decision that the injuries sustained by Orianna were "unsurvivable", Officer Lever continued, and with no other options it was decided to extubate her and she died shortly afterwards.

Greater Manchester Police then launched a murder investigation which resulted in the arrests of Crilly and Chadwick.

A full forensic postmortem examination has since been carried out by a Dr Wilson. However, a medical cause of death was not identified.

Coroner Peter Sigee today suspended the murder investigations and adjourned the inquest until March 24.

Mr Sigee said: "I would like to express my condolences to all who have been touched by Orianna's death.

"I am very sorry for all who have had to learn about her in these circumstances."

In a statement Orianna's family earlier said: "As a family we have been asked to say a few words about our beautiful Orianna, but even a thousand words could not begin to describe how much she was loved and how much joy she brought to our lives.

“Orianna was just 12 months old, learning to walk and talk and starting to develop her own little personality. She had the cheekiest smile with the biggest brown eyes, a combination that melted out hearts and wrapped us around her little finger.

“Orianna was a daughter, grand daughter and great grand daughter and the void she leaves can never be filled.

“She was our gift and cruelly taken from us and we are unsure how we can live without her.

"Orianna was our little princess and she was the centre of her daddies world. He loved her millions and she will always be in his heart and his memories and will be loved forever.

“The family would like to thank family and friends for their support and ask for privacy during this tragic time."