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Mother is held over girl's death Mother is held over girl's death
(1 day later)
The mother of a four-year-old girl found dead at their home in Merseyside has has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. The 22-year-old mother of a four-year-old girl found dead at their home on Merseyside has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.
The child was removed from the house, in Oakdale Avenue in Wallasey, by police officers in the early hours. The body of Chloe Fletcher was removed from the house in Oakdale Avenue, Wallasey by police in the early hours.
A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out later. Forensic scientists were at the scene collecting evidence. Officers were alerted by a call from a public telephone box about half a mile from the house.
A telephone box about half a mile from the murder scene has been linked to the investigation. A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out. Forensic scientists remain at the scene.
The box, at the junction of Brentwood Street and Poulton Road, was searched by officers earlier. Box searched
James McManus, 67, who lives next door to the house where the child was found, said he had heard the girl "laughing and joking and screaming" when she had woken up. Wirral Council said Chloe and her family were known to a number of agencies, including its children's social care team.
'Lovely little girl' A spokesman said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to everyone in the local community affected by this tragedy."
But he added that it would be "inappropriate to comment further" given the early nature of the police investigation.
The telephone box, at the junction of Brentwood Street and Poulton Road, was searched by officers earlier.
Flowers have been laid outside Chloe's home in Wallasey
Detectives say they are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed someone using the phone at about 0140 BST.
James McManus, 67, who lives next door to the house where Chloe was found, said he had heard her "laughing and joking and screaming" when she had woken up.
Mark Lamb, 33, was staying at Mr McManus's house on Tuesday night when police arrived.Mark Lamb, 33, was staying at Mr McManus's house on Tuesday night when police arrived.
He said: "I just heard police in the early hours, knocking on the door saying, 'it's the police, let us in'.He said: "I just heard police in the early hours, knocking on the door saying, 'it's the police, let us in'.
"A lady came to the door, they went in, a few more things were said, then the next minute, six or seven police cars arrived and an ambulance.""A lady came to the door, they went in, a few more things were said, then the next minute, six or seven police cars arrived and an ambulance."
A floral tribute has been laid by neighbours outside the house
Kayleigh Leathers, 23, a neighbour, paid tribute to the four-year-old.Kayleigh Leathers, 23, a neighbour, paid tribute to the four-year-old.
Neighbour 'flabbergasted'
She said: "She was a lovely little girl. She was very bouncy and she would always shout 'hi' when she would walk past.She said: "She was a lovely little girl. She was very bouncy and she would always shout 'hi' when she would walk past.
"Her mum kept them to themselves, and there were only the two of them there in the house. "Her mum kept them to themselves and there were only the two of them there in the house.
"Every now and again, you would see a man there who I thought was her partner. "Every now and again you would see a man there who I thought was her partner.
"She kept the girl in her pram and took her out an awful lot late at night."She kept the girl in her pram and took her out an awful lot late at night.
"You heard her screaming at her a bit, but I thought that was just like any other child. "You heard her screaming at her a bit but I thought that was just like any other child.
"I'm flabbergasted.""I'm flabbergasted."
Neighbours and local residents have laid a small floral tribute outside the house.Neighbours and local residents have laid a small floral tribute outside the house.
Wirral social services expressed their condolences to the community but said "given the early nature of the police investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time". Police are continuing to question Chloe's mother on suspicion of murder.