Baby 'Lara' finally laid to rest

Police reconstructed the concrete block in 2003

A baby whose body was entombed in a concrete block for 15 years is to be laid to rest, Cumbria Police said.

The baby, found in Workington in 2002 and named Lara by police officers, had been beaten before being buried.

In July an inquest found the child had been unlawfully killed, but those responsible have never been found.

The funeral will be held at St Paul's Church in Seaton on 13 September, followed by a burial service at St Peter's Church in Camerton.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said the child would be buried as an unidentified female infant, but that the occasion would be "dignified."

Lara, aged between four and six months, lay undiscovered until the concrete block where she was buried alive was smashed open in a garage in Barepot.

Still investigating

A post-mortem examination showed she had suffered a fractured skull, bruising to the abdomen and an untreated abscess in the mouth which had cracked the bone. She may also have been sexually abused.

Detectives investigating the case found a DNA link between the baby and Anne Chadwick who had lived with her ex-husband Philip only 100 yards from where the youngster's body was discovered.

The pair were arrested last year after tests revealed Mrs Chadwick could be the baby's mother or sister.

But the couple, from Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, were released without charge.

Subsequent research then suggested the baby was the daughter of Mrs Chadwick's parents, Joe and Sheila Thwaites, who have since died.

But police said they did not believe any member of the family caused the injuries and are still investigating.