Alexys Brown: Inquest opened after Weymouth girl dies in lift

The appeal for Alexys Brown's family was started on Friday

An inquest has been opened and adjourned after a five-year-old girl died when her head became stuck in a lift.

Firefighters helped free Alexys Brown from the lift at Emmadale Close, Weymouth, on 13 August but she was pronounced dead in hospital.

Coroner Sheriff Payne was told she died of neck and face injuries after becoming trapped between part of the lift and the ground floor ceiling.

The inquest will resume on 20 January.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed it is investigating the incident.

An online appeal set up to help Alexys's family has so far raised more than £13,500.

Floral tributes have been left outside the house

Last week the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Christine James, said news of Alexys's death had come as a "total shock" to the "tight-knit" community.

She added residents were likely to "rally round and do what they can to help".

Dorset County Council said it had not installed the lift at the property.

A spokeswoman for the authority said the lift involved was commonly known as a "through floor lift" and enabled someone with a physical disability to access upper floors, where stairs cannot be used.

The two-storey house has a disabled ramp outside.

The incident happened in a residential area of the seaside resort