Appeal after foetal remains found in Stonyhurst, Clitheroe

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Many of you will have seen in the news today about some foetal remains being found in the Stonyhurst area yesterday. We’re now able to provide you with a bit more information and need to ask for your help.

At 3:13pm yesterday (Tuesday 11th August) our officers were flagged down by a member of the public who had found what they thought to be a placenta inside a bag. 

This was found in a wooded area on the Mitton side of the river under the Hodder Bridge on Whalley Road in Stonyhurst, Clitheroe.

Our officers attended the scene, and it was later discovered that the bag contained the remains of a foetus. An investigation into how it came to be there has been opened, and our detectives have been conducting enquiries throughout the day. That scene and cordon remain in place whilst forensic enquiries continue.

At this time, we do not believe the foetus to be full term, but enquiries to determine the exact point of gestation are ongoing. We also have enquiries ongoing to identify the mother, who we are really concerned about.

We know that there will have been people visiting the area over the weekend, and into this week, and we will have not yet spoken to all visitors. If you have been in that area this weekend, please get in touch with us, you may be a witness to our enquiries.

We are particularly keen to speak to a man who was in the area with two children on Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm. He may be a witness to our enquiries.

We also know that this is a really picturesque place, where people come to visit and take photos. If you have images from this area from over the weekend and the beginning of this week, we would be very interested in speaking to you.

DCI Jill Vescovi of our Force Major Investigation Team said: “We have a live investigation underway following the devastatingly sad discovery of this little one. Our enquiries are in their very early stages, and we are working to determine the important facts.

“What we do know is that it is really important for us to find the mother of this baby. We are concerned about her health, and her welfare, and urgently need to identify her and speak to her.

“I know that she must have been through something horrific, and she may be frightened about coming forward. We need to speak to her so that we can find out what happened, and so that we are able to give her baby the goodbye they deserve.

“I want to make a direct appeal to her today to ask her to please come forward and speak to us, or someone she trusts who will make a report. We want to make sure you are safe and that you have had any relevant treatment you may need.

“It’s also really important that we speak to people who were in the area recently, to help us try and determine how the foetus came to be in this area. Someone will know what has happened, and it is my, and my team’s job to find out exactly what. We have enquiries ongoing, but we need your help. If you know anything, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, please get in touch with us.”

If you can assist our enquiries in any way, please call us on 101 quoting log 0864 of 11th August.