No police action over toddler's nursery death

Jude Gerrard was pronounced dead in hospital

Police have said no further action is to be taken over the death of a two-year-old boy who suffered a medical episode at a Merseyside nursery.

Jude Gerrard, from Bootle, was pronounced dead in hospital shortly after the incident at Early Learners Day Nursery, on Hawthorne Road, at about 12:35 GMT on 14 January.

Opening the toddler's inquest in January, senior coroner Julie Goulding said his cause of death had not yet been ascertained and would be investigated by police, health and safety experts and the Food Standards Agency.

Merseyside Police said its investigation had now concluded and the family had been informed of the decision.

The force said: "An extensive investigation was carried out to establish the full circumstances and cause of Jude's death, with a number of witnesses spoken to, CCTV footage assessed and all options explored regarding potential criminal offences.

"Following careful consideration of the evidence gathered and after seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, no further action will be taken.

"This decision has been communicated with Jude's family, and the matter has now been referred to Environmental Health at Sefton Council."

Emergency services were called to Early Learners Day Nursery in Bootle on Merseyside

Paying tribute shortly after Jude's death, his parents described him as "truly so incredibly special".

"Everybody who ever met him couldn't help but instantly love him, and he had so much love for everyone too, even if he'd pretend to 'web' you like Spider-Man or wrestle you like Hulk Hogan," they said.

"Our lives will never be the same again - he really was too good to be true and we can't believe he has been taken away from us like this."

They added: "We count ourselves so lucky we got to be his mummy and daddy for two and a half years, even though he should have had so much more time."