THE Droitwich couple quizzed by police over the discovery of a baby encased in concrete have been released on bail.

Philip and Anne Chadwick were arrested at their home in Sandles Road, The Ridings, on Wednesday morning in connection with the murder probe.

They were later taken to Workington police station, in Cumbria, for questioning.

The Chadwicks, aged 42 and 41 respectively, were originally to be held until 4pm yesterday, but police officers were granted an eight-hour extension.

The couple were released around 9.30pm last night - two-and-a-half hours before the midnight deadline.

They were bailed to reappear at Workington police station at a date yet to be fixed.

Their younger son and daughter are thought to have stayed with relatives while their elder son, aged 18, is believed to be studying at university.

The concrete tomb was discovered 16 months ago in the corner of a little-used garage in the hamlet of Barepot, near Workington, where Mr and Mrs Chadwick used to live.

Cumbrian police set about tracing all previous residents of the area and 25 officers travelled to Worcestershire to continue the investigation.

The chemical firm manager and medical receptionist were the first arrests during Operation Lara.

The baby's body was discovered in September 2002 when a 60-year-man, from Barepot, near Workington, decided to clean out his cluttered garage.

He smashed a 50lb concrete block, which was too heavy to move, and revealed its secret - the remains of four to six month old baby Lara.

Advanced body tissue analysis, first devised in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, were used to try and trace Lara's parents, without success.

The first picture of the couple shows them smiling and enjoying a holiday together in 1995 - around three or four years after police think baby Lara was left in her grave.