AN inquest into the death of a baby found entombed in a block of concrete will take place on Monday, July 18.

Witnesses due to appear at the three-day inquest, in Workington, Cumbria, will include an independent DNA expert.

Baby Lara, as she has been named by police, was six months old when she died and her identity and place of birth still remains a mystery.

A Droitwich couple, Anne and Phillip Chadwick, were arrested on suspicion of murder last March, but were later cleared of any involvement in the death.

The baby's remains were found in the block inside a derelict garage in the tiny village of Barepot, near Workington, in September 2002.

A man clearing out the garage made the grim discovery when, unable to move the concrete, he smashed it up.

Police launched a murder hunt after tests revealed Lara had been badly neglected.

In a bid to trace her parents, they carried out hundreds of DNA tests, including taking swabs from Mr and Mrs Chadwick, who used to live just yards away from where Lara was found.

In an national newspaper interview, Mrs Chadwick, of Sandles Road, said the baby could be her sister.

West Cumbria coroner John Taylor will head the inquest.