The parents of a baby who died were not told about the possible retention of their son's organs, the General Medical Council (GMC) has heard.

Dr Andrew Selby is understood to be the first doctor to appear before the professional conduct committee charged in connection with the organ scandal at Liverpool's Alder Hey Childrens' Hospital.

The consultant in paediatric intensive care is also said to have lied to Julie Wilkinson and her partner, Nick Williams, about the post-mortem examination of their son's body.

Dr Selby is said to have told them only an "inch-long incision" was needed to find out what caused their son's death.

On that basis four-and-a-half-month-old Owen Williams' parents reluctantly agreed to the procedure, the GMC in Manchester was told.

Several months later they found out that most of Owen's organs had been removed during the post-mortem examination and retained by the hospital.

Dr Selby, who denies professional misconduct, is accused of giving false information to the couple over the nature of a post-mortem and the replacement of organs prior to their child's burial.