Freckleton vicar still suspect in murder probe

Rev Jim Percival, 65, and his daughter Ruth, 28, both reported to police this afternoon and were re-bailed until September.

The pair were both arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child following the sudden death of a baby boy last year.

Officers were initially called to an address in Sunnyside, Freckleton, on November 25 after a family member reported the still birth of a baby boy.

However, despite an inconclusive post mortem, police said they believe the baby boy’s death was suspicious.

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned back in May.

The coroners’ court heard the boy was born at around 3am on November 25 but died a short time later.

The cause of death is still unknown.

At the time, questions remained over whether the child was alive at the time of delivery.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “A 65-year-old man and 28-year-old woman from Freckleton arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child have been re-bailed until September 30.”