Tina McLeod is a registered child minder

Neighbour Corrine Wilson, 41, said she still let her own young daughters play with Tina McLeod's children - even after the death of Alexander Graham.

And the High Court in Edinburgh heard that social workers were "impressed" by the quality of her parenting.

Mrs McLeod denies murdering Alexander Graham on 26 July 2001.

She is accused of repeatedly shaking and twisting the one-year-old boy and striking his head against an unknown blunt object or surface.

Out of the room

The 40-year-old, of Craigleith Hill Avenue, Edinburgh, told her trial that she found Alexander gasping for breath on her living room floor.

She said that she thought he had fallen off a settee while she was out of the room.

Mrs Wilson, a 41-year-old accountant who lives opposite the McLeods, said her daughters played with the family's children both before and after Alexander's death.

Alexander Graham died in July 2001

She said her children sometimes went to Mrs McLeod's house.

Mrs Wilson said the child minder had been "distressed" when she spoke to her shortly after Alexander was taken to hospital.

"I was shocked and distressed on her behalf. I can imagine as a mother how distressing it must be to have something like that happen in your home," she said.

A court order kept Mrs McLeod apart from her daughters - aged seven and three - for six weeks after she was charged with murder.

She was not allowed to be alone with her children when bail conditions were relaxed to allow her to return home.

Social worker Andrew Gillies said that the youngsters were still on the child protection register because their mother faced a murder charge.

Close attachment

He told the court that social workers had backed Mrs McLeod's appeal to be allowed to spend time with her daughters without a social worker or other relatives keeping an eye on her.

"We continued to be impressed by the quality of parenting and did not feel it would be a risk," said Mr Gillies.

He said her daughters were healthy, well cared for and had a close attachment to their parents.

All the evidence has now been heard in the case and lawyers are due to make their closing speeches on Thursday.