A PROUD father feel asleep cradling his five-week-old son in his arms -- then awoke to find him dead, an inquest heard.

Devastated Anthony Olbinson discovered little James Leech lying motionless by his side -- eight hours after giving the tot a midnight feed before nodding off.

But an inquest heard first-time father Mr Olbinson, aged 32, could not have prevented his tragic son's death.

Bolton Coroner Aidan Cotter said James died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The inquest heard James was born premature last August.

He remained in hospital for two weeks before returning home to his parents Anthony Olbinson and Eileen Leech, of Kenyon Way, Little Hulton, weighing 6lb 13oz. Health visitor Zoe Cooper said James was developing well after a visit on September 29, Mr Olbinson told the inquest.

But tragedy struck later in the evening.

Mr Olbinson said he brought James downstairs at around 1am before feeding him, winding him and rocking him to sleep.

"It was a nightly routine," he said. Mr Olbinson then fell asleep with his son in his arms.

And it was not until 8am in the morning when Mr Olbinson woke up to discover the horror, the inquest heard.

He said: "I looked down and saw him lay by my side and realised he was dead."

Mr Olbinson frantically undid his son's clothing and massaged his heart before phoning for an ambulance, the inquest heard. But the baby died later at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Pathologist Dr Stephen Wells said a post-mortem examination failed to discover a cause of death and said findings were consistent with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Det Con Russell Owen confirmed police did not treat the death as suspicious after an investigation.

Bolton's Coroner, Aidan Cotter, said there was no evidence to suggest the youngster had been accidentally smothered.

Mr Cotter said: "Cases like this are very difficult. All of us have held babies and fallen asleep but most of us wake up much more quickly and do not have the trauma you woke up to."

"We know he was well looked after."

Mr Cotter recorded a verdict of death by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.