Baby's body found in freezer

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body of a new-born baby found in a freezer at the London home of the daughter of one of Britain's senior businessmen.

The baby, understood to be male, is believed to have been found last week at the home of Emma Gifford, daughter of the recently retired chief executive of the Rank Organisation, Michael Gifford.

Miss Gifford, 20, is reported to be receiving medical treatment and is unable to answer questions by investigating police officers.

The body of the baby is said to have been discovered by Miss Gifford's brother at his sister's home in Onslow Gardens, Kensington, west London. The flat is owned by a family trust. The brother also lives at the flat.

Miss Gifford has lived at the property since 1994 when she returned to London after leaving a university course in Scotland.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a post-mortem on the dead baby had been carried out after its discovery last week and that results had proved inconclusive. The body may have been kept in the freezer for up to a month.

The body is believed to have been found wrapped in a plastic bag. Police were notified of the discovery and an initial inquiry was carried out, including statements taken from people close to the Gifford family.

Miss Gifford is one of her father's four children. Mr Gifford, a multi- millionaire, was chief executive of the Rank Organisation for 12 years, seeing it grow to a group worth pounds 3bn. He lives in Little Chart, Kent with his third wife. Miss Gifford's mother was the businessman's second wife. He has made no public statement on the discovery of the baby in his daughter's home.

It is understood that one of the police's priorities is to try and trace the father of the child.