A BABY died and 14 others across six hospitals have suffered blood poisoning from an apparently contaminated batch of intravenously fed liquid.

The child who died was being treated at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital in central London after the blood poisoning, caused by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.

The victim was among a number of babies, who are mainly premature, being cared for in neonatal intensive care units across England. The others affected are responding to antibiotics.

Public Health England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are investigating. Because Bacillus cereus develops quickly, no further cases are expected.

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire said it had had two cases, with both babies "stable and improving". Two further cases were at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital. Chelsea and Westminster said four babies were infected at its neonatal unit.

A spokesman said: "Public Health England has been investigating a small number of cases of infections on neonatal units within six UK hospitals, including CUH Addenbrooke's.

"The infections were traced back to a feeding substance which has now been withdrawn.

"All the babies concerned are being treated and have responded well."

The liquid, manufactured by ITH Pharma Limited, aims to deliver nutrients intravenously when a baby is unable to eat on their own.

The supplier was not available for comment.