The corpse of a recently buried baby was dug up and dragged out of a Morden grave covered in just 18 inches of soil.

Wild animals clawed through the temporarily sealed burial spot and coffin of a five-month-old baby before dragging it more than 100 yards across the New Battersea Cemetery in Garth Road.

Some remains of the baby were found on Tuesday in wasteland surrounding the Wandsworth Council-run cemetery.

Police said the baby was buried on August 18 and have informed the next of kin.

Forensic teams immediately sealed off the area while teams of Merton police officers spent two days combing the ground for further traces of the corpse.

Tents covering the grave and spot where the body was found were only removed on Friday after Home Office pathologists were drafted in to investigate.

Animal experts have also been analysing claw marks and scratches found on the baby’s coffin - initially believed to be inflicted by foxes.

It is thought the part of the grave containing the baby was sealed off so that the rest of the burial spot could be filled with other coffins at a later date.

Wandsworth Council is investigating the incident but said the grave had been covered using a “heavy wooden board” to keep it secure, which a spokesman said was “common practice” across the country.

The spokesman said council officers had paid a personal visit to the baby’s family and added: "We were deeply shocked and dismayed to learn of this awful discovery and have sent the family our deepest condolences and sympathies at this very difficult time.

“We will be working very closely with the police and the coroner to find out precisely what happened and to also see if there are any lessons that can be learned to ensure it never happens again.

“We are of course now looking at these procedures as a matter of urgency to see if they can be improved in any way."

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