Mother arrested after her daughter was found dead in their Dewsbury home

By Andrew Hough Published: 8:00AM GMT 20 Feb 2010

Officers attended the scene at Naylor Court, a cul-de-sac of relatively new-build, modern houses in Dewsbury Photo: EPIX

West Yorkshire Police said officers attended an address yesterday afternoon at following a request by health care workers under the Mental Health Act, a spokeswoman said.

Officers attended the scene at Naylor Court, a cul-de-sac of relatively new-build, modern houses in Dewsbury where they found the body of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl.

Dad jailed for killing six week old daughter Mother drowned disabled baby because she was embarrassed, court hears Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after her elderly parents are found dead Daughter kept mothers decomposing body for a year in bed Mother arrested after six-week-old baby girl being monitored by social services dies Boy, 11, charged with murdering fathers pregnant girlfriend

Police sources said it was her daughter.

Neighbours accused the police and social services of being "heavy handed", claiming they knocked the mother"s front door down this afternoon.

The woman, who has not been named, is being being questioned by detectives.

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

A post mortem is to be held on Saturday.

The woman"s friend and neighbour Janine Barraclough, 36, believes the tragedy developed from a dispute with social services.

Ms Barraclough said social services threatened to take the child away about a month ago and then returned today.

"They said they were going to take her kid away and they came round banging and kicking on the door.

"She must have flipped. She was a good mum. A brilliant mum. That kid was so well looked after. She would want for nothing."

She described the girl as "beautiful with mousy brown hair and blue eyes".

She added: "She was a happy kid. You would see her playing in the park."

Ms Barraclough said she saw her friend about a week ago and she "was fine", adding that she was separated from the girl"s father.

She said she had heard that the girl suffered "multiple injuries", but added she was not sure how she had died.

Late on Friday night the house remained sealed off with a policeman standing outside.

A police spokeswoman said a 29-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

Detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death, she said.

"At 2pm (on Friday) police attended an address at Naylor Court, Dewsbury in support of a request from health care workers," she said.

"Inside they found the body of a two and a half year old girl. A 29 year old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

"A Forensic Post Mortem will be carried out (on Saturday) by Home Office Pathologist Prof Peter Vanezis to establish cause of death."