A six-year-old girl found dead at her Norfolk home last year was covered with 60 bruises, a court has heard.

Lauren Wright of Welney, Norfolk died from a blow to the stomach that caused her digestive system to collapse, a jury at Norwich Crown Court was told.

QC Graham Parkins alleged that Tracey Wright, 31, the girl's stepmother, struck the fatal blow.

Mr Parkins said: "The Crown's case is the assailant, the person who struck the forceful blows, was Tracey Wright."

Bruised face

Both Tracey Wright and the girl's father, Craig Wright, a 38-year-old car mechanic from Welney, have denied manslaughter and wilful neglect.

Mr Parkins said: "Tracey Wright ... treated this child abysmally, physically assaulting her on numerous occasions, leaving bruises to her face and arms that were seen by friends, neighbours and villagers."

He said that in addition to hitting and beating Lauren, Tracey Wright "behaved towards this child in a cruel and indeed spiteful way".

One villager had described Lauren as looking like a waif who resembled a child in a poster for the NSPCC, it was alleged.

Lauren had bruises on her shoulders, arms, cheek, chest, abdomen, with 19 on her legs and shins caused by kicks or blows with an object, the court was told.

Also in court was Lauren's natural mother Jennifer Bennett, who identified her daughter's body at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn.

The trial at Norwich Crown Court is due to last for several weeks.