A WOMAN has been remanded in custody charged with murdering her five-month-old baby daughter.

Hayley Macfarlane was not required to enter a plea to the charge when she made a brief appearance before magistrates in Leeds on Saturday.

The 39-year-old, who was visibly upset in the glass-fronted dock, spoke only to confirm her date-of-birth and her home address as being Carrington Street, Barnsley.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed on Friday that Macfarlane had been charged with the murder of her daughter Evelyn.

In a statement issued on Thursday, police said a woman had contacted police at 5.44pm on Wednesday reporting a baby in a serious condition in Woodhouse Moor park in Leeds.

The statement added: "Officers attended and the five-month-old girl was taken to hospital by ambulance for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead a short time later."

During her court appearance, lasting just three minutes, Macfarlane was told that magistrates were precluded from considering bail on a charge of murder.

Macfarlane was also told that she will remain in custody until a prison video-link appearance at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.