A MOTHER has been charged following the death of two-year-old Rio Smedley in Bolton.

Kirsty Smedley, 23, from Bolton, has been charged with allowing or causing the death of a child.

She appeared before Bolton Magistrates' Court today and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square tomorrow.

At about 5.45pm on April 22, police went to a house on Cheriton Drive, Breightmet, following reports that Rio had gone into cardiac arrest.

He was rushed to the Royal Bolton Hospital by an ambulance crew where he died.

A post mortem examination concluded that Rio died from severe abdominal injury.