AN open verdict has been recorded at an inquest into the death of a nine-week-old baby.

Andrew Love's death will remain a mystery - "unascertainable" - ruled Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield.

No anatomical explanation could be found for his death and there was no evidence of disease or infection.

But what two post-mortem examinations found was evidence of six old rib fractures.

During 14 attempts to resuscitate Andrew, Dr David Emerton and his team at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, also found haemorrhages in the baby's eyes.

Neither the doctors at the hospital nor two pathologists called in to carry out post mortem examinations found any evidence of fresh injuries.

Broken ribs and retina haemorrhages are frequently associated with violent shaking in child abuse cases, the inquest was told, although there could be innocent explanations.

Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper told the inquest: "It is possible that death was due to natural causes. There is a reasonable possibility, however, that it was not.''

His colleague, Dr James Sunter, said: "I would be very surprised if injury was responsible for this. I am more sceptical about the possibility of injury.''

Andrew was born to Samantha O'Gorman, who was then 16, and Gary Love, then 17, on January 8, 2002.

When he was about three weeks old, he fell off his parents' bed on to the floor, then at about four weeks, he was in his father's arms when he hit his head on a cupboard door, after a rottweiller belonging to Miss O'Gorman's parents jumped up at Mr Love.

Miss O'Gorman said there was another occasion when the baby could not keep down his feed.

On the day he died, in March 2002, Andrew had been changed by his father, who was with the baby when he shouted to Miss O'Gorman that there was something wrong, Andrew had gone floppy.

Mr Love then ran to a neighbour's house in Quenby Road, Billingham, near Stockton, calling for them to ring for an ambulance.

Paramedic Denise Harling said that while travelling to the hospital in the ambulance Andrew "would cry out in pain".

Mr Love gave his evidence in a written statement, as the inquest heard that he is in Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institute, in Barnard Castle, for an undisclosed offence.

Mr Sheffield said: "The reason for the delay in holding this inquest were instructions from the High Court because of other proceedings affecting the family, which the High Court said should be dealt with before this inquest.''