Police investigate orphanage 'mass grave' claim

Pensioner Frank Hadley claimed the remains of the children, who died of natural causes, were buried in the grounds of Haseley Hall in Warwickshire during the 1940s and 50s.

He said he helped bury the bodies while himself an orphan at the Haseley Hall Residential Open-Air School for Boys.

Mr Hadley, now 73, told a local newspaper he had brought the matter out into the open because he wanted to ensure the children received a proper burial before he died.

He has reported the matter to Warwickshire Police who yesterday said they were investigating the claims.

A spokeswoman said: "We are taking this matter seriously and we are investigating. But at this stage we are not sure if anything criminal has taken place or not.

"What you have to bear in mind is that times were different back then, so we need to look into the history of the site before we take any further action."

Mr Hadley said: "A lot of the kids died from pneumonia, tuberculosis and bronchitis.

"When the children died they were buried in an apple orchard in the grounds – not proper marked graves, just a hole in the ground. I just want to die knowing that they had a proper burial."