THE ‘mummified’ skeletal remains of a new-born baby were found wrapped in a blanket in the attic of an empty house.

Builders found the body of the boy as they prepared to renovate the property in Windsor Street, Colne.

The detective, who led the investigation into the discovery, told an inquest it was ‘unlikely’ he was related to the family who occupied the house between the mid-1960s and June 2007.

Det Insp Mark Rothwell said he was also doubtful that the baby boy had been placed in the attic prior to the family moving in.

He told the hearing at Burnley magistrates the body could have been placed there after June 2007, but said it was ‘most likely’ that someone, who knew the family, had left it in the attic ‘with or without’ their knowledge.

Det Insp Rothwell said police had ruled out that the child had been killed deliberately as a series of tests have led them to believe the child suffered ‘no trauma.’ But the inquest was told the identity of the child and cause of death remain unknown.

Richard Taylor, East Lancashire coroner, said he had ‘little option’ other than to return an open verdict.

The hearing was told how builders discovered the skeleton in the attic of a terraced house while they were undertaking renovations in March this year.

Windsor Street is a main road, which runs from the end of North Valley Road.

Builders found the new-born baby’s remains wrapped in a blanket and with a newspaper dated February 1970 close-by.

Det Insp Rothwell told the hearing tests have revealed the child, was a male, between 34 and 38 weeks-old when he died.

He said the house was occupied by Jessie Barnes from the mid-1960s to her death, in June 2007, aged 87.

She had two daughters, Christine Barker and Joyce Halls, who had been interviewed by police following the discovery of the child’s remains.

DNA tests have ruled out the possibility that either women was related to the child.

DI Rothwell said: “The two daughters of Jessie Barnes both deny being the mother of the child and they were both unaware of their mother ever giving birth again. It was a shock and mystery to them.

“Tests show no signs of trauma or violence. The child had a broken collar bone, which is not uncommon in childbirth.”

The detective told the hearing it was unlikely the baby had been placed in the attic before Jessie Barnes moved in as the newspaper looked as if it had been put over the body ‘deliberately.’ And he said it was also doubtful that the remains would have gone unnoticed for 40 years as they were placed ‘just through a door’ in the attic, which was ‘not very secluded.’ Richard Taylor said: “We can say for certain it was a male. We can say for certain there was no foul play, but apart from that, the best guess is that he died around 37 years ago or before.

“It is a complete mystery. All efforts by police officers, pathologists, forensic pathologists and anthropologists have not been able to help identify the child. He died probably about February 1970 and the pathologist said the cause of death is unascertained.”

Det Cons Dave Groombridge, of Nelson Police, was involved in the original investigation.

He added: “We believe there is no criminality involved with this case and we are not treating it as a crime.”