A baby was discovered with multiple injuries after parents organised a party a court has heard.

The event was at an address in Bolton, and involved the consumption of alcohol and drugs, the court was told.

Prosecutor Andrew Mackintosh said a social worker attended in the days afterwards, and a baby was discovered with multiple injuries such as bruising to the arms and legs and some swelling to the face.

The parents, a man and a woman in their 20s who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of the child, said the injuries were accidental.

But doctors at Royal Bolton Hospital assessed the child and determined at least some of the injuries, of which there were more than a dozen in total, were not accidental.

The parents were arrested and each one was charged with three counts of child cruelty. They denied these charges and suggested others who attended their party were responsible for the injuries.

But eventually each of them admitted one count of child cruelty on the basis they exposed the infant to the risk of harm at the event, but did not cause the injuries themselves. They were sentenced on this basis at Bolton Crown Court this week, after the Crown Prosecution Service opted not to pursue the other charges and put forward no evidence and they were found not guilty on both counts.

In mitigation for the father, defence barrister Adam White said he accepted a 'dereliction of duty', which was a result of 'a young parent struggling with the stress of a young child'.

And in mitigation for the mother,defence barrister Rachel White stressed she was less responsible than her partner as a result of her learning disabilities.

Recorder Andrew Long accepted these points and the parents avoided prison.

Recorder Long said: "A non-stop party was taking place at your home. You exposed [the infant] to the risk of harm.

"It is clear you are both unprepared and unsuitable for parenthood," he added.

The father was handed a suspended sentence, 25 days of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work.

The mother was handed a community order and 25 days of rehabilitation activities.

Their child, now three, is in the care of a relative and the parents are not allowed to see them unless supervised.