BABY charity The Lullaby Trust is funding a major new study into sudden death in childhood.

Every year around 17 toddlers over the age of one die unexpectedly and no cause is ever found.

Losing a child in this way is devastating to families and while a great deal of research has been carried out into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which affects babies under one, there have previously been no major studies into sudden unexplained deaths of young children.

The study will be carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals, and is led by Professor Neil Sebire.