The trial of a couple charged with killing Norfolk six-year-old Lauren Wright has heard how a village postmistress expressed concerns about the girl's condition weeks before she died.

Wendy Redman told Norwich Court Court that she alerted a school secretary and a relative of the girl.

Lauren was found dead at her home in Welney on 6 May, 2000.

Prosecutors say she had been struck so hard in the stomach that her digestive system had collapsed.

Her stepmother, Tracey Wright, 31, and father Craig Wright, 38, deny manslaughter and wilful neglect.

Digestive system

The prosecution at Norwich Crown Court has alleged that Lauren was starved, beaten and abused over a period of more than a year.

It has also alleged that Tracey Wright struck the child in the stomach so hard that her already weakened digestive system collapsed.

At the time of her death, Lauren had 60 bruises on her body and marks consistent with her being struck with a hard object - possibly a stick.

Ms Redman, who is postmistress in Welney village, told the jury how she noticed bruising on both sides of Lauren's face about seven or eight weeks before the little girl died.

Concerns raised

"On most of her face there was bruising. On both sides. It started at the neck," she said.

"I have never seen bruising like that before."

As a result, she raised her concerns with the secretary at the William Marshall County Primary School, where Lauren was a pupil.

Mrs Redman said she also told one of Lauren's aunts of her concerns.

The trial continues.