POLICE have launched a murder investigation after the body of a four-year-old girl was found at her Wallasey home in the early hours of this morning.

At around 1.40am officers were called to an address in Oakdale Avenue, Poulton, by a family member who rang from a public telephone booth on the corner of Brentwood Road and Poulton Road.

The body of the girl, named by Merseyside Police as Chloe Fletcher, was inside.

Officers discovered the girl's body and a 22-year-old woman - believed to be the child's mother - was arrested on suspicion of murder.

A Home Office post mortem was being carried out this evening to establish the cause of death.

The probe is in its early stages and Crime Scene Investgators are at the address. House to house inquiries are also taking place.

The Globe understands that the family were "known" to Wirral Council's children and young persons department.

Mum-of-two Alexander Roberts, who lives across the road, told the Globe: "At about 12.40am I heard a woman screaming and banging on the door of the house over the road.

"This is a real shock and I'm still shaken up by what's happened."

Rose Stewart, 67, who lives two doors away, said: "I didn't really know them, but the little girl always seemed to be well-looked after and well-turned out. The mother seemed like a nice girl. It's an awful shock."

Kayleigh Leathers, 23, another neighbour, said: "She was a lovely little girl. She was very bouncy and she would always shout 'Hi' when she would walk past.

"Her mum kept them to themselves, and there were only the two of them there in the house.

"She kept the girl in her pram and took her out an awful lot late at night. You heard her screaming at her a bit, but I thought that was just like any other child. You only ever saw them between 6pm and 9pm."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the woman and her child had lived there for two years, but in that time he had spoken only about a dozen words to her.

Seacombe ward councillor and member of Merseyside Police Authority Cllr Adrian Jones said: "This is an appalling tragedy but it would be premature to say anything more before the police have completed their investiation."

Jeff Green, Conservative group leader on Wirral Council, said all party leaders were being kept in close contact with relevant council departments but that it would be inappropriate to comment further.

A spokeswoman for Wirral Council's children and young persons department said: "“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to everyone in the local community affected by this tragedy.

"Given the early nature of the police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Anyone with any information - or who may have been in the vicinity of the phone box at 1.40am this morning - is asked to contact police on 0151 777 2262 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The 22-year-old woman remains in police custody.