Police are being urged to investigate claims that dozens of babies were buried in a mass grave amid abuse and mistreatment at a Church of England maternity hospital.

The Diocese of Carlisle, which ran the institution, has apologized to the widower of a woman who committed suicide because she never recovered from the trauma of her son’s death at St Monica’s maternity ward .

After the death of his wife, Judith, Stephen Hindley discovered the horrible secret kept for decades by the Church: a plot in a cemetery in Kendal, Cumbria, is an unmarked grave for many nameless babies.

Cumbria Police say they are ready to investigate as soon as a formal complaint is received.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Furness, is leading calls for a police investigation and an official inquiry.

Judith Hindley committed suicide because she never recovered from the trauma of her son’s death at St Monica’s maternity ward.

He said the evidence suggests there are “dozens” of babies in the grave and that it is “extremely likely that the babies died from lack of care, in appalling circumstances because they were not not been cared for properly.”

St Monica’s was operated in Kendal by the diocese from 1918 until its closure in 1970.

Judith Hindley, from Salford, Greater Manchester, was sent there in 1963 and gave birth to a son, Stephen, who was allowed to die due to lack of medical care.

Ms Hindley killed herself in her Renault Clio after driving from her home in Kendal in 2006 to be close to Stephen when he died.

Her widower Stephen Hindley, 77, has since investigated the circumstances of her death and thus discovered the truth about the burial site.

Mr Hindley discovered his wife’s baby had been buried in an unmarked grave at Parkside Cemetery in Kendal.

He received a letter from the then South Lakeland District Council, confirming the area was being used for “public burials” and warning him there were other burials in the unmarked grave.

Mr Hindley told the BBC that Judith was sent to the home because “teenage pregnancy was a shame in those days”.

He added: “They were treated very harshly. They worked from morning to night, that’s what she told me.

“This lasted until they gave birth. It was like something out of a Dickens novel – just horrible.

Judith had given birth to her baby son in April 1964, but it soon became clear that he was very ill.

“She told me she begged them to let the baby go to hospital,” Mr Hindley said.

“But they didn’t – they said he would be treated internally. He lasted another 11 weeks.

He said his wife’s experience at home and the loss of his baby boy were the trauma that led to him being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and attempting suicide several times.

“She always felt guilty,” Mr Hindley added.

“She always felt like she was a bad person.

“In moments of despair, she would say to me, ‘I don’t know why you would want to be with a bad girl like me. “It was ingrained in them from home.

Tim Farron took over the campaign on Mr Hindley’s behalf.

He said: “It’s appalling, I’m heartbroken for Stephen and Judith who died, and all their family.

“It’s absolutely horrific and what it has revealed is that, apparently, in a cemetery that I know well, there are perhaps dozens of babies, with no names in an unmarked grave, who died due to poor care at St Monica’s in the 1960s. Kendal.

“It’s tragic and horrible to think about what these women went through and what they may still be going through.”

“There must be a police investigation and each of these babies must be named and remembered and justice must be served.”

Mr Farron said he would push Cumbria Police to launch a criminal investigation, promising to speak to police about “abuse of women and their babies”.

He said he believed it was “extremely likely” that the babies “died through lack of care, in appalling circumstances because they had not been properly cared for”.

Cumbria Police said they “have not received any official reports at this stage of any offense having been committed in relation to this matter”.

The force said anyone with information about possible criminality should contact officers.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Carlisle said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Hindley and his family after coming forward with accounts of historical abuse suffered by his wife, Judith, which focus on former maternity hospital of St Monica of the diocese of Carlisle.

“It is shocking to learn of such mistreatment and we offer our sincere apologies and deepest sympathy to Mr Hindley and his family.

“Great trust will have been placed in those who supported the young women and girls of St Monica’s, and we are truly sorry if that trust has been betrayed in the care of Mrs Hindley and her baby, Stephen, resulting in long-term mental health problems.

“Our diocesan safeguarding advisor contacted Mr Hindley as soon as possible, and he has since made contact to detail the account of his housewife’s treatment and the lasting impact it has had.” We are grateful that he has come forward and fully understand how difficult and upsetting this process continues to be for him and his family.

“We are determined to continue to work alongside Mr Hindley as he seeks answers and, furthermore, we are fully prepared to co-operate with other statutory agencies if necessary.”