Parents cleared of child neglect said they finally "felt like a proper family" just days before their one-month-old baby died.

Little Freddie Lomas was found unresponsive by parents Danni Knowler and James Lomas at their home in Howick Lane, Aylesford.

The couple, who slept together on a mattress of the living room floor with the infant beside them on a pillow, found him pale with blue lips when they woke up on November 10 2016.

Miss Knowler wept as an inquest today recounted how James' grandmother attempted CPR before paramedics arrived and rushed baby Freddie to Medway Maritime Hospital.

Doctors desperately tried to save his life, carrying out 27 cycles of CPR and administered adrenaline 7 times, but were unsuccessful.

Miss Knowler, and Mr Lomas, aged 19 and 20 at the time, were both charged with causing unnecessary suffering or injury but were cleared when the prosecution brought no evidence against them at a trial in October.

The inquest was held today at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone after being suspended for the criminal proceedings.

Before and after Freddie's birth the family received "intensive" support from a nurse and were known to social services.

"He was placed on a child protection programme because of ongoing drug use and a turbulent relationship between parents," said coroner Katrina Hepburn.

Louise Brace, the family nurse who visited the family home several times before the baby's death, said: "When I saw Danni she didn't seem to be under the influence of anything.

"She was very receptive to Freddie's needs, she was always giving him a cuddle, she spoke very fondly of him, she was always looking at him and touching his face and hair, when she handled him it was very gentle.

"I didn't have any concerns about her attachment to Freddie."

On one visit the family were happily making mementos together.

"Any child death is an absolute tragedy and this on particularly with one so young," - Coroner Katrina Hepburn

"James reportedly enjoyed being a father and both said things had clicked and that they felt like a proper family," she continued.

However, further evidence revealed the parents ignored her advice and put him to bed on a pillow by the side of their mattress.

He would sleep with the mum's arm under his neck and their heads together on her pillow despite being told he should be in a separate cot.

Miss Knowler admitted it was possible she could have rolled onto her son during the night.

A toxicology report also showed that Freddie had been exposed to cocaine, cannabis, and codeine, but had not ingested any drugs before his death.

The couple told police that the day before his death, baby Freddie was constipated, crying, and didn't want to eat.

Despite these findings, a post-mortem examination could not establish the cause of his death.

Ms Hepburn was left with no choice but to make an open conclusion as it was unclear how Freddie had died.

"I'm sorry that I can't offer you any more information," she said to Miss Knowler.

"Any child death is an absolute tragedy and this one particularly with one so young.

"Please accept my sincere condolences today."

Read more: All the latest news from Malling