NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after a Droitwich couple were arrested on suspicion of murdering a baby.

Philip and Anne Chadwick were still being quizzed by detectives, today, following the discovery of a baby girl encased in a block of concrete, in Cumbria, 16 months ago.

It is believed Mr and Mrs Chadwick - aged 42 and 41 respectively - moved from Cumbria to Sandles Road, The Ridings, six years ago after his job was relocated.

The baby, named Lara by police, was believed to be between four and six months old.

Her body was discovered in September, 2002, when a 60-year-old man smashed up a concrete block in his newly-acquired garage in the village of Barepot, on the outskirts of Workington, Cumbria.

Tests revealed she could have been entombed for more than 10 years.

She had been badly neglected and was suffering from an extremely painful abscess in her upper gum at the time of death.

Ann Court, whose house in nearby Sandles Close backs on to the Chadwicks' home, was "staggered" at the news.

"They seem really family-orientated and are always in their garden with the kids."

Janet Yates, who lives several doors away, was in "complete shock and disbelief".

"I knew something was going on this morning because I saw about eight police cars with two plain-clothed officers in each.

"We knew it must be something serious. You don't expect something like this on a road where you live."

Some 25 officers from Cumbria police travelled to Droitwich on Tuesday night and arrested the couple at around 8am yesterday with the help of West Mercia colleagues.

It is believed several items were taken away from the four-bedroom detached house as search was made.

The couple were initially taken to Worcester police station but later transferred to Workington, where they were being questioned by detectives working on Operation Lara.

The couple's two sons and a daughter, aged between 10 and 18, were being cared for away from the family home.