Murder detectives have removed an entire bannister from a house in an attempt to find out how a two-year-old boy died.

The bannister and spindles have been taken from a home on Hartlepool's Central Estate where the broken body of toddler Kyle Fisher was found.

Forensic police experts in Wetherby, Yorkshire, are now examining the bannister as part of a Cleveland Police murder investigation.

Kyle died of severe head injuries at a specialist unit of Newcastle General Hospital. The little boy was taken to the University Hospital of Hartlepool the previous evening after his baby sitter said he had collapsed. He was sped up to Newcastle under police escort a few hours later as part of a desperate battle to save his life.

The toddler's 19-year-old mother and a 34-year-old woman were later arrested and released on police bail.