A COUPLE were being quizzed by detectives today over the grim discovery of a baby girl found entombed in a block of concrete 16 months ago.

The 42-year-old man and 41-year-old woman, who have not been named, were arrested in Sandles Road, The Ridings, Droitwich, at 8am this morning on suspicion of murder.

The husband and wife were due to be taken to Cumbria from Worcester police station for further questioning later today.

The discovery of the baby girl, encased in a block of concrete, hit headlines around the world.

The baby, named Lara by police, was thought to have been aged between four and six months old. Officers believe her body might have been in the tomb for up to 10 years.

A 60-year-old man found her in September, 2002, when he acquired a semi-derelict garage in the village of Barepot, on the outskirts of Workington, Cumbria.

He was unable to move the concrete block, so smashed it up.

Police believe someone moved the 50lb block to the garage without knowing Lara was inside it.

Detectives said they were convinced it was made in a frame specifically to entomb the child.

Tests showed the baby had suffered from an extremely painful abscess in her upper gum.

Detectives also believe she had been badly neglected and have not ruled out murder.

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.

A Cumbria Constabulary spokesman declined to say what had led to today's arrests in the continuing Operation Lara inquiry.

A team of 25 officers from Cumbria travelled to Droitwich last night and made the arrests with the aid of colleagues from West Mercia police.