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Kirkham stream baby death: Funeral held for boy | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The funeral has taken place for a baby boy whose body was found in a stream in Lancashire. | |
The boy, who was thought to be no more than a few weeks old, was found in Spen Brook, off Carr Lane, Kirkham, on 1 October last year. | |
Despite appeals by Lancashire Police, the baby's mother has not come forward. | |
The funeral, which was arranged through donations by local businesses, began at St Michael's Church, Kirkham, at 17:00 BST. | |
Local people initially raised more than £1,000 to pay for the funeral but as businesses stepped in to offer their services the money will now go to local children's charities. | |
'Real sadness' | 'Real sadness' |
Mayor of Kirkham Elaine Silverwood said people in the town had "pulled together". | |
She said: "Kirkham is a small, close-knit community and there is a real sadness in the town. | |
"There is relief that the baby is going to be buried now because it has been many months since he was found. | "There is relief that the baby is going to be buried now because it has been many months since he was found. |
"The fact that the little boy will be in our local churchyard means that he is still close to us and will always be remembered." | |
His headstone reads "baby boy" and includes a pledge that he will always be remembered. | |
Alan Billington, of Billington Funeral Directors which co-ordinated the funeral, said: "When we saw the story in the paper we rang the council and said if the baby's parents weren't found we would undertake the funeral arrangements. | |
"I managed to arrange for the monumental masons to do the stone and the church isn't charging for the service. | "I managed to arrange for the monumental masons to do the stone and the church isn't charging for the service. |
"People in Kirkham feel so sad that a baby hasn't got a mother or father to take care of them - it has brought the community together." | "People in Kirkham feel so sad that a baby hasn't got a mother or father to take care of them - it has brought the community together." |
The service was performed by the Reverend Rick Bunday and featured readings from three local primary school head teachers and Lancashire Police Det Ch Insp Andrea Barrow. | |
Lancashire police said the investigation into the baby's death was continuing. |