A coroner has ruled the father of Poppi Worthington should be shielded from the public at an inquest into his daughter's death - but the press should be allowed to see him.

The issue sparked a five and a half hour legal battle before Mr Worthington finally began answering questions around the little girl's final hours.

Poppi, from Barrow, died in December 2012 after collapsing suddenly at her home in the town.

She was 13 months old.

Lawyers for Paul Worthington, 49, argued he should be allowed to give evidence from behind a screen - and that his current appearance should be kept from the media and the public.

This, said Paul Clark, representing Mr Worthington, who is said to be living under 'witness protection', was because of 'serious threats to his safety'.

The request was opposed by Gillian Irving QC, representing Poppi's mother, and barrister Jude Bunting, representing a number of media groups.

As part of a lengthy submission to the court, Mr Clark said: "The risks to Paul Worthington are immediate.

"He has been for a very long time in a position of great vulnerability and risk.

"What could be gained by the media being able to see Mr Worthington?"

But Ms Irving said she fully opposed any attempt to allow Mr Worthington to sit behind a screen.

"This raises issues of significant public interest importance," she said.

"Poppi's mother has waited almost five years for this hearing and the notion that she should be deprived of hearing the account on this last final occasion of Paul Worthington is unsatisfactory in the extreme.

"I support and would adopt the very powerful submission made on behalf of the media."

Mr Bunting added: "This (being able to see a witness give evidence during an inquest) is a fundamental principle of open justice in coronial proceedings."

In giving a ruling on the matter, Coroner David Roberts, said the ability of the press to see Mr Worthington and assess his demeanor as he gave evidence was crucial.

But he agreed making Mr Worthington sit in front of members of the public could affect the quality of the evidence he may give.

He told the hearing: "The press are the eyes and ears of the nation. 65 million people cannot attend Kendal to hear evidence and they rely on the press to provide a faithful, full and proper record of the process."

In January last year High Court judge Mr Justice Jackson concluded on balance of probability the little girl had been sexually assaulted by Mr Worthington in the hours before her death - an allegation he has always denied.

The inquest, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.