FRESH calls have been made to investigate the 'unspeakably awful' historical deaths of babies at a maternity home.

MP Tim Farron has urged officers to look again into the former St Monica's maternity home in Kendal which was run by the Church of England’s Diocese of Carlisle until its closure in 1970.

Following previous claims of abuse towards unmarried mothers staying at the home, it has emerged that 45 babies from St Monica's who were born and died there are buried in a mass unmarked grave.

ITV News reported allegations that mothers were denied modern medical care and babies with disabilities were left to die in agony.

Mr Farron has asked for a new police probe and also called for babies who died to be memorialised.

He said:  “The revelations that mothers at St Monica’s were denied modern medical care and babies with disabilities were left to die in agony is unspeakably awful.  

“The police should investigate this harrowing new information.

“We can’t bring these babies back but we can give them the dignity they were so cruelly denied by giving them a proper memorial service.”

The home, based from 1933 at a property on Dalton Drive, was operated by the diocese between 1918 and 1970, when it closed. The building is now the the Silver Howe care home.

A spokesman for the diocese said: “It is abhorrent to think that any child should be denied proper medical care and we would urge anyone with such information to contact Cumbria Constabulary."

They added the diocese alerted police when it first became aware of the allegations.

Cumbria Police has urged anyone with information to get in touch with officers.

A previous police probe followed allegations made by Stephen Hindley, who claimed his wife Judith suffered abuse while at the maternity home and said he believed she later took her own life because of the trauma.

It led to an investigation by Cumbria police but officers said they found that no historic abuse crimes were committed at the home.

The investigation carried out by detectives at Westmorland and Furness CID involved a review of all available evidence, Cumbria Police said.

Police also carried out inquiries, which included contact with staff at the Parkside Road Cemetery, interested parties, the relevant diocese and the local authority.

However, officers followed up and focussed on concerns raised and found no evidence of criminal activity.