The body of a four-year-old girl was discovered at her home in Bury after her worried grandmother forced her way in.

Chloe Burke was lying lifeless in bed with her mother, Dawn Makin, at their home in Lea Mount Drive, Bury.

Ms Makin’s mother, Sheila Makin, made the gruesome discovery when she broke into her daughter’s house at 6.50pm yesterday.

She had been concerned since 2pm that day when she was unable to contact her daughter, who lived just a few doors away, and saw the curtains were closed.

With the help of a neighbour, she knocked down the door to Ms Makin’s house before calling the emergency services.

Chloe, who is understood to have been stabbed, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her mother, who is in her 30s and training to be a nurse, was unconscious and believed to have had slash wounds to her wrists. She was taken to Fairfield General Hospital, where she was last night in a critical condition.

Police launched a murder inquiry and today said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with Chloe’s death.

Scenes of crime officers have been forensically examining the house and a large section of Lea Mount Drive remained under a police cordon yesterday.

Bury divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, said the family was not known to social services and their last contact with the police was in 2007 for a domestic incident.

He said: "This is an absolutely devastating time for the family of Chloe and her mother and, while we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this, it is important that we find out for them exactly what happened.

“There is no immediate indication why this has happened. It appears to have come out of the blue.

“A team of detectives is working to find out what led up to this tragedy and specially trained officers are working closely with the family. We are talking to Dawn’s relatives, friends and colleagues to find out more about her life, her relationship with Chloe and what could have led to this.“ Ch Supt Rush said a post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday to establish the cause of Chloe’s death.

Bouquets of flowers were left in Lea Mount Drive yesterday as Chloe’s friends and relatives went to pay their respects.

Among them was her father, Michael Burke, and her brother, Nathan.

Mr Burke said: “I have been to see the mother. We had a good relationship, we just grew apart, that’s all.

“I’m gobsmacked. I have no idea how this has happened. I’m absolutely in bits about it.”

Tributes have been flooding in for Chloe, who was a pupil in the nursery at St Joseph And St Bede RC Primary School, in Danesmoor Drive.

Headteacher, Liz Connolly, said: "Chloe was a much loved and delightful member of our school community and will be sadly missed by everyone who was part of her life in the nursery and school.

“All our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this heart-rending time."

Neighbours were left reeling that their normally quiet street had become a crime scene.

One man said: “It’s really shocking that this has happened. The woman is really quiet and just keeps herself to herself. It’s very sad.”

Another man said: “I often see the woman and her little girl and she’s always nice to chat to. This is really terrible.”

Another neighbour added: “This is usually a quiet area and nothing like this happens here. I was shocked when I saw all the police in the street.”

A woman said: “I’m really shocked. It’s still sinking in what has happened.”