CUMBRIA'S MPs have spoken of the 'utterly appalling' circumstances surrounding the death of tragic Poppi Worthington - and how no other child must suffer like her in the future.

Little Poppi, from Barrow, died in December 2012 aged just 13 months.

This week, a coroner ruled she had been sexually assaulted by her father, Paul Worthington, in her final hours.

She suffocated shortly after the attack after being placed to sleep in Mr Worthington's double bed, her inquest concluded.

Today, the county's parliamentary representatives have spoken about Poppi's case as pressure mounts for the launch of a public inquiry into broad failings surrounding her short life and sudden death.

They follow comments made by Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock who met with Home Secretary Amber Rudd on Tuesday to discuss further action for Poppi in light of the #justiceforpoppi campaign, relaunched by The Mail on Monday.

Speaking on the discussion in parliament, Mr Woodcock said: "Mrs Rudd pledged to consider urgently what steps she can take in the light of the verdict and asked me to work with her Home Office team to try to make any action she takes as effective as possible."

Tim Farron, a Liberal Democrat representing Westmorland and Lonsdale, called for the case to be re-opened in a bid to secure justice for the little girl.

Mr Farron said: “In light of the Coroner’s verdict, there should be a new independent inquiry into how this was allowed to happen and the flawed police investigation that followed.

“I am also in no doubt that this case must be re-opened if at all possible so that we can finally get justice for Poppi.”

Labour's Sue Hayman, for Workington, said she had been left 'utterly appalled' at Poppi's case.

She too backed calls for a government-level inquiry into the wider failings surrounding Poppi's death.

"I have spoken to John Woodcock about this many times," Mrs Hayman said.

"It's a really, deeply appalling case.

"We need to try to get a proper understanding of why it went so wrong because this is the only way we can prevent these terrible circumstances from occurring again."

Concerns over the 'harrowing' case prompted Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, to write to the UK's justice minister David Gauke.

Mrs Harrison said: “I have already written to Secretary of State for Justice, David Gauke and fully support John Woodcock in his calls for a public inquiry into the harrowing death of Poppi Worthington.”

Carlisle's John Stevenson, said he hoped Cumbria's police force, as well as its children's services department, had learned lessons from the case.

"The circumstances of this case were absolutely appalling.

"The police clearly made fundamental mistakes which they have recognised and I hope have learned lessons so there can never be a repeat.

"I also hope social services will make sure they are alert to potential cases like this at an earlier stage."

Rory Stewart, the MP for Penrith and the Border, said he was unable to comment on the circumstances surrounding the death of baby Poppi because of his parliamentary role within the Ministry of Justice.