Mother dies collecting loft gifts

Karen Russon died at her Black Country home

A mother-of-five was killed when she fell from her loft as she collected her children's Christmas presents.

Police believe Karen Russon, 24, suffered a head injury and her body lay under the hatch for 24 hours.

Her three youngest children, aged three, four and six, were watching television downstairs. The older children were not at home.

The alarm was raised on Friday after a loan company agent called at the house in West Bromwich, West Midlands.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and the coroner had been informed. An inquest is to be opened later this week.

Neighbour Janet Ives said: "I found three children sat on the settee, all in their pyjamas still. The little girl said: 'I have fed them all'.

"She had fed them with cereals and milk."