Bodies exhumed after seven deaths

The decision to exhume the bodies of elderly people who had lived in a care home in Somerset was taken after a joint investigation by the local police force, and the organisation that inspects care homes across the UK.

Leigh and Rachel Baker were both arrested after Ms Cox's death

Avon and Somerset Police are now investigating seven deaths at the Parkfields home in Butleigh near Glastonbury.

The exhumation of Nellie Pickford, who died there aged 89, is the first of three.

The force was called in by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) after the death of 97-year-old Lucy Cox at the home on New Year's Day.

Two people were arrested, and the CSCI ordered Parkfields to close. Residents were looked after by the local county council.

Elderly residents are currently still living independently in sheltered bungalows on the care home complex.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, spoke about what had happened: "There was about 14 residents and they left within two days.

"It went so quick. I said to Bill 'what's going on?'. 'I don't know,' he said. 'The police and camera people are there'."

Grief has to be revisited. It's a terrible thing to have to do from an investigator's point of view Det Supt Trevor Simpson, Avon and Somerset Police

The CSCI had visited the home in June 2006, before returning in January after "certain matters" were brought to its attention.

It will not go into more detail on what prompted the visit.

What it will say is that standards had deteriorated significantly and, after receiving no co-operation from the owners about improving them, the organisation issued an emergency closure notice in March.

Police arrested nurse Rachel Baker, 45, on suspicion of administering a noxious substance.

She is listed as the home's manager on the January CSCI report.

Her husband, Leigh Baker, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the administration of a noxious substance.

The pair remain on police bail, to report back to officers in September.

Police exhuming bodies must get permission from the coroner, according to the Home Office, which has passed responsibility for this area on to the newly-created Ministry of Justice.

Body re-buried

Det Supt Trevor Simpson, in charge of the investigation, said: "All the families are thinking 'we've buried our mum or dad once before and now we have to do again'.

"That grief has to be revisited. It's a terrible thing to have to do from an investigator's point of view."

After a post-mortem examination, Ms Pickford's body is likely to be re-buried in Glastonbury Cemetery by the end of the week.

The home, which had been running since 1998, was registered with the CSCI in the name of Mr Baker's mother and father.

The pair, who set up Parkfields Ltd in 1999, have not been arrested.

Their limited company - whose principal business is a residential care home and developing retirement units for sale - turned over £1.4m in 2005.

This is the last date that accounts were filed.