Girl, eight, found hanged at home

Tributes have been left outside the house where the girl lived

An eight-year-old girl has been found hanged in her bedroom at a house in Nottinghamshire, police said.

The child was found at her home in Moor Street, Mansfield, on Saturday morning. Nottinghamshire Police's Public Protection Unit is investigating.

A five-year-old boy also living at the address has been taken into local authority care.

Police said no-one had been arrested but the girl's parents were interviewed under caution.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Specialist police officers are working with social services to find out how the incident happened. Police were called at 0915 BST on Saturday.

'Chirpy little girl'

A bunch of flowers, a card and a teddy bear were among items left at the door to the house, where the blinds were drawn closed.

One 21-year-old student, who did not want to be named, said: "I was asleep when I heard her mother screaming. There were a few police cars, a couple of ambulances and a doctor."

Katherine Salmon, 34, who left a tribute at the scene, said: "I was shocked when I heard it yesterday. I used to say hello to the little girl. She was a chirpy little thing.

"From what I have heard it was an accident."

Det Supt Adrian Pearson, head of Nottinghamshire Police's Public Protection Unit, said: "We are investigating the full circumstances of this death with our colleagues at children and young people's services.

"The inquiry is at a very early stage, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at present."

Councillor Philip Owen, in charge of children's services at Nottinghamshire County Council, said that the girl was known to the local authority as she had learning difficulties.

He said that "all the paperwork and case history will be reviewed as part on the ongoing process".