A BABY at the centre of an ambulance service probe into its response time died after choking, an inquest heard.

Jay Beard, aged four months, from Coval Avenue, Chelmsford, died on June 12 at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Chelmsford Coroners Court heard his mum found him unresponsive on his bed on June 9.

Two police officers were first on the scene following a 999 call and drove him to Broomfield Hospital.

He was later transferred to Great Ormond Street.

A post mortem found he died as a result of an object blocking his airway despite it being removed in hospital.

A probe has since been launched to find out why an ambulance took 13 minutes to get to the scene. The service’s target time is eight minutes.

The inquest has now been adjourned until later this year.