Mother held after girl, three, is found dead in her home

A mother has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of her three-year-old daughter after the child's body was found in their home.

Officers discovered the body at a property in Birmingham at 5.30pm on Saturday, it emerged today.

The girl's mother — who is in her twenties — was being questioned today. Experts have been unable to establish how the child died.

A toxic substance was found in the house and tests are being conducted to see if it is connected to the girl's death.

Chief Inspector Mark Payne of West Midlands police said: "We are working together with the local community, who have been shocked and distressed by this death."

It is thought the child, who has not been named, died a short time before being discovered on Saturday when the alarm was raised.