A 15-year-old girl from Manchester has appeared in court charged with killing her own newborn baby.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stands accused of failing to provide the baby with care and medical attention and is being charged with concealment of birth, infanticide and manslaughter.

Speaking at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court today, Judge Mark Hadfield told the youngster: "This is clearly distressing for you appearing in court then having to listen to the legal argument."

Police said they discovered the dead newborn after being called to a house in Manchester during the early hours of 11 February this year. Detectives have been investigating the incident for almost ten months before deciding on what to charge her with.

The girl, who is from the Burnage area in South Manchester, was granted unconditional bail at Manchester Youth Court today and is due to appear before the court again on December 23.

A spokesman from Greater Manchester Police said: "We are unable to provide further information due to the sensitive nature of the case."