Tribute paid at last to town's lost children

Some would have been paupers from the old workhouse, others children whose parents could not afford a proper burial and hundreds more were stillborn babies who were treated like "clinical waste".

Plans have been unveiled for a memorial at Chester-le-Street District Council's Ropery Lane Cemetery, along with a memorial wall where relatives will be able to place plaques to remember loved ones.

The council's bereavement officer, George Blenkiron, is behind the plans to create the memorial.

Last year, he was instrumental in winning a national prize for the cemetery, and has been backed by a new group that has launched a fundraising drive to finance the monument.

Mr Blenkiron said: "This will be final recognition for the many youngsters buried here.

"There are at least 800 stillborn babies in the cemetery - and not one has a marker.

"And of more than 4,300 children under the age of five buried here, at least half are in unmarked graves.

"Many would have come from the workhouse. The local hospital also had a contract with the burial board and hundreds of the children came from there.

"Up until the 60s, parents would not see their stillborn child. It was just taken away.

"They would not even know what had been done to them. It was almost like disposing of clinical waste - which is a horrible thought."

In one grave, used from 1950 until 1952, there were 43 children aged from nought to six days. If they were stillborn, their names would not be recorded.

Friends of the Cemetery spokesman Carole Bruce said: "We are planning a monument with a beautiful design called Bedtime Stories.

"It will depict a small boy and girl climbing the stairs. You get a lump in your throat just looking at it."

The new Friends group will be holding a Mothering Sunday get together at the cemetery from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Refreshments will be served and plans for the new baby and children's garden will be on display