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vicar and his daughter have been arrested on suspicion of murder and sex offences after her newborn baby boy was found dead.
Police are questioning the pair - named locally as the Rev Jim Percival, 64, and his daughter Ruth, 28 - after finding the baby's body at his vicarage
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They are also being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child together with a 65-year-old woman, named locally as the vicar's wife Susan.
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trio were being held tonight at Blackpool Police Station. None of them have been charged with an offence.
Police said the baby boy, born to the 28-year-old woman named locally as Ruth, was reported stillborn
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After 'numerous inquiries' and a post mortem which could not establish the cause of death, the circumstances were declared suspicious.
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Police spokesman told
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‘Shortly before 6pm on Tuesday November 25, police were called to an address in Freckleton following an initial report that a woman had given birth to a still-born baby.
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‘The baby’s mother, a 28-year-old woman, was taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where she was treated and later released.
‘Following numerous inquiries, the death of the baby boy is now being treated as suspicious.
‘A post mortem examination has been carried out and the cause of death is currently inconclusive. Further tests are now being carried out to try and establish exactly how the baby died.
‘A 64-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman
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have been arrested on Tuesday, December 2 on suspicion of murder, conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child, and sexual offences.
‘A 65-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child.
‘They are all currently still in custody and the police investigation continues’.
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have made several trips to the vicarage, which is in a quiet lane at the edge of the village, in the last week. Forensics officers wearing white gloves were seen searching the house and taking photographs.
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is the vice-chairman of the governors for the village's Freckleton Church of England primary school, where his daughter is also believed to work.
One parish council member told
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'He's been here for about eight to ten years. He's well-known among the community, especially at the church. He's a friendly, nice chap.'
Greg Butler, who has lived near the vicarage for 33 years with his wife Brenda, said: 'The vicar seemed like a nice enough person but I wouldn't say he was a natural vicar.
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obviously known to some people in the area but me and wife don't go to church so we didn't know him on a personal level.
'We would see him and his wife Susan and his daughter Ruth quite often because it's only a small village. But I would never expect to hear of something like this.
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really shocking - this is a very small village and it's always peaceful.
'There has been a hefty police presence in the last seven days or so. It was obvious that something wasn't quite right but this is very shocking.'
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'The village is running amok with talk. I live nearby and the vicarage has been littered by police and people doing fingertip searches. The vicar has been here for some time and this is a complete shock.'
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: 'There's a van been parked outside all day today but police cars and vans have been up and down the street all week.
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must have been coming here for a good week to ten days now.
'I've not heard anything about any arrests as we've not long lived in the area. But either way it's quite a shocking thing to hear.'
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the Diocese of Blackburn said: 'The diocese is aware of the situation regarding Rev Jim Percival and his family.
'We have been liaising closely with Lancashire Police and are offering pastoral support to the church and the local community and will continue to do so.'