A BABY'S coffin may have been buried empty and the child's body cremated alongside that of an elderly woman, it has emerged.

Police in York are investigating two funerals conducted by the city's Co-operative Funeral Home in 1998. Sources alleged that the funeral home buried an empty casket that was supposed to contain the body of a baby.

It is claimed the baby's body was instead put inside another coffin, alongside that of an elderly woman.

That coffin was incinerated at York Crematorium without the knowledge of the child's parents, who are from York.

It is believed that the child's coffin has been exhumed as part of the police inquiry and found to be empty.

On Thursday, detectives charged one man aged 47 and another aged 44 with conspiracy to prevent the proper burial of a body.

The two men have been released on police bail.

They are due to appear at York Magistrates' Court on Monday.

A third person arrested in connection with the investigation has been released without charge.

A spokesperson for United Co-operatives, which is the UK's largest funeral director with 169 branches, said an employee had been suspended on full pay pending an investigation.

The company has previously confirmed that the police were investigating two funerals conducted by the York funeral home in 1998.

A spokesman said: "Our thoughts and sympathy are with the two families involved and we hope to be able to minimise the distress caused to them."

It is believed the allegations came to light as part of a separate inquiry which has led to the manager of York Crematorium, Deborah Kilvington, being suspended on full pay.

Ms Kilvington is the subject of a disciplinary investigation by City of York Council, which runs the facility.

Terry Collins, the council's director of neighbourhood services, said the two investigations were not connected.

He said: "The council is aware of the police investigation and is co-operating fully.