A nurse has been charged with eight counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in connection with baby deaths at a hospital in Cheshire.

Lucy Letby, 30, is due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, a spokesman for Cheshire police said.

A statement from the force said Letby had been charged following an ongoing investigation into a number of baby deaths and non-fatal collapses on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The statement said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Cheshire Police to charge a healthcare professional with murder in connection with an ongoing investigation into a number of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“Lucy Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is facing eight charges of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder. The charges relate to the period of June 2015 to June 2016.

“The 30-year-old was re-arrested on Tuesday, 10 November, and has since subsequently been charged.

“She has been held in custody and is due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 12 November.”

On Tuesday, police said parents of all the babies involved were being kept fully updated on developments and were supported by officers.

Detectives launched an investigation into infant deaths at the hospital in May 2017, initially looking at the deaths of 15 babies between June 2015 and June 2016.

The probe later widened to the deaths of 17 babies and 16 non-fatal collapses between March 2015 and July 2016.

Ms Letby worked at the unit as a student nurse during three years of training before qualifying as a children’s nurse at the University of Chester in 2011. She said she started working at the unit after graduating.