POLICE have made a fresh appeal to trace the mother, five years after a baby boy’s body was discovered by a workman,

The dead baby was found in a black bin-liner during renovations at The Howroyd stately home at Krumlin Road, Barkisland, on July 12, 2006.

Although the baby’s death is not being treated as suspicious, police are keen to trace a woman called Angela Owen who was resident at the address prior to the discovery.

Det Sgt Bill Hargreaves, of Calderdale CID, said: "It is now five years since the discovery of the baby and we need to speak to Angela about it. We are doing what we can to trace Angela so we can discuss this.

"The death of a young child is always particularly distressing and we need to know she is OK.

"Someone out there must have met Angela and know where she is. I need those people to come forward and tell me what they know."

A post-mortem carried out at the time of the discovery revealed the baby could have been at the location for up to a year before it was discovered.

The baby boy died after a full-term pregnancy and where he was buried was very close to the house and within view of its windows.

Despite extensive nationwide enquiries police have failed to locate Angela who is known to have used many aliases in the past, including Ann Hall.

Miss Owen is believed to have rented the old servants quarters at The Howroyd from January 2002 until the following May and lived there with her partner.

She has not been seen since June 2004 when she visited the Weston Super Mare area using the names Carla Geissler and Helen Gee.

She is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, very slim and with blonde shoulder length hair and brown eyes.

The Howroyd is a house with a fascinating history. The current house dates back to the 17th century, but there are records of a house there stretching back 800 years.

Previous guests are said to have included Lord Nelson, Guy Fawkes and the composer Ivor Novello.

One man who did own the house and its six-acre plot was actor Richard Thorpe, who plays Alan Turner in the hit soap Emmerdale.

Anyone with information should call Halifax CID on 01422 337085 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.