A vicar and his daughter have been arrested in connection with the death of her baby.
The Rev Jim Percival, 64, and Ruth Percival, 28, were taken into custody on Tuesday morning as police searched the family vicarage in the Lancashire village of Freckleton.
Officers were first called to the property a week ago following reports that a child had been stillborn.
But in the days that followed detectives grew increasingly suspicious about the death after carrying out ‘numerous inquiries’, a police spokesman told Metro.
The pair, who remain in custody, are also being held on suspicion of sex offences and conspiracy to conceal the birth.
A 65-year-old woman, said to be the vicar’s wife, Susan, has also been arrested.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the cause of the baby’s death is yet to be confirmed.
Rumours began sweeping the village when Mr Percival, of Holy Trinity Parish Church, failed to attend the village’s Christmas lights ceremony on Monday.
One unnamed neighbour said: ‘He’s been here for about eight years and is well known among the community.’
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