Village ready for Lilly's funeral

Artists have created an impression of baby Lilly

Back in May, the finding of a baby girl's body in a Warwickshire river shocked everybody living in the area.

Lilly, as she came to be known, was named after the flowers in the River Alne, near Great Alne, where she was found.

She had suffered appalling injuries and police are still unclear about how she came about them. Her mother has not been traced.

If the community, and other people who were touched by the story, had not come forward with donations, Lilly would have been given a pauper's burial.

Instead she is having a funeral service at St Mary Magdalen church, in Great Alne.

Afterwards, church wardens, a hospital representative and police officers will act as her family at a private interment.

I think the community needs to feel they have put the little soul to rest The Rev David Capron

The Reverend David Capron said quite a few villagers would be attending the service.

"For a short period she was a member of our community and will therefore lie in our Garden of Resurrection," he said.

"At least she will be afforded the dignity she did not seem to get in her short life."

People have come forward with all sorts of offers and donations, including money for flowers and a headstone.

Everyone involved directly in the funeral, such as the undertakers and the scout leader who has offered to dig the grave, is giving their services for free.

The baby's body was found by the River Alne, near Great Alne

Any money gathered from donations will be collated and shared out amongst children's charities.

"I think the community needs to feel they have put the little soul to rest," Mr Capron said.

Newly born Lilly's body was found on 11 May by a family out walking. She had suffered several injuries including a fractured skull and collarbone.

Children's and women's clothing were retrieved from the scene as well as other items including women's underwear and tea towels.

'Cry for help'

Police believe these "clues" could be a cry for help from Lilly's mother.

Det Insp Debra Tebbs of Warwickshire Police said it was a case that had affected police personally as well as professionally.

"This is such a sad case. Officers can't help but be touched by investigations like this," she said.

A set of pyjamas is a clue to finding the mother

"We want to thank people for their help and support - people have helped her to have a dignified funeral, without that she would have been buried as a pauper. Through the public's support this has not happened, they have taken her to their heart."

And Det Insp Tebbs made another appeal for Lilly's mother to come forward.

"We very much need to speak to the mother and to make sure she gets the support that she needs," she said.

"These incidents are always complicated. We need to understand the circumstances surrounding her case."

She added that no-one would be rushing to make judgements.

The search for Lilly's mother is continuing. Police say they have some positive lines of inquiry to go on and that forensics are playing an important part in the investigation.