ONE of Britain's leading catalogue retailers has suspended from sale the bath chair at the centre of an investigation into the death of a Southampton baby.

Eleven-month-old Lewis Adams drowned in seconds when his mum Kelly Young, 18, turned her back to fetch him a towel.

Lewis was sitting in a £6.99 Lipski Kid "Safety Bathring", which his anguished parents say tipped forward and trapped the toddler under the water.

Dad Gary Adams, 36, of Tatwin Crescent, Thornhill, said: "As she went back to get his towel - a matter of three or four feet - the bath chair had tipped and kept him under the water."

Now retail giant Argos has removed the chair, which is sold with "adult supervision required" advice, from its stores while police investigate.

A spokeswoman for the retailer said: "Argos has been informed by Hampshire police of the tragic death of an 11-month-old child.

"It is understood that the child died in the bath and had been using a bath chair purchased in an Argos store.

"Argos is shocked and saddened to hear of the death and our thoughts are with the child's family.

"As a responsible retailer, Argos is suspending the product from sale while it investigates the matter further."

Mr Adams welcomed the news, adding: "I have heard that someone else has had problems as well. I think it is a good thing that it is no longer on sale."

The colourful chair is now the subject of a coroner's inquiry.

A spokesman for Southampton coroner's office confirmed that questions are being asked

He said: "The police are investigating the bath chair on behalf of the coroner."

An inquest into the death of baby Lewis was opened on Monday morning and adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

Lewis Adams' funeral, which is open to everybody who knew him, takes place at St Christopher's Church on Pepys Road, Southampton, at 1pm on Friday, December 27.