A MAN and a woman have been charged with murder following the death of a six-month-old baby.

The boy, named in court as Robert Ion, was found unresponsive at a property on Mersey Road in Widnes on the afternoon of Thursday, February 18.

He was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Cheshire Police were informed and subsequently arrested 35-year-old Gabriela Ion and 28-year-old Mihai-Catalin Gulie.

The pair have since been charged with murder and appeared before Warrington Magistrates Court today, Thursday.

Both defendants were remanded into custody ahead of a further appearance before Liverpool Crown Court next week.

A force spokesman said: "A man and woman have been charged with murder following the death of a baby.

"At 1.05pm on Thursday, February 18, police were notified that a six month old boy had been taken to hospital after becoming unresponsive at an address in Widnes.

"The boy was taken to hospital where he passed away.

"Gabriela Ion, 35, and Mihai-Catalin Gulie, 28, were arrested and subsequently charged with murder - the pair appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court on Thursday, February 25.

"They were further remanded into custody to appear in crown court on Monday, March 1."