Scenes-of-crime officers were yesterday carrying out intensive forensic work at a Bradford house where the badly-decomposed body of a young boy was found.

Teams of investigators moved into the boarded-up mid-terrace house in Crofton Road, Heaton, as inquiries into how and when Hamza Khan died continued.

The youngster, who was found in a cot in an upstairs bedroom, would now have been six years old, but it is thought he could have been dead for more than two years.

A 41-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, believed to be the boy’s mother Amanda Hutton and a close relative, were arrested in connection with his death and bailed pending inquiries.

Yesterday a number of police vehicles were parked outside the house, in a quiet residential cul-de-sac. They included two video vans and a scientific support vehicle.

A large white tent had been put up around the front garden. Sheets also hid the police activity from public gaze.

Half a dozen forensic officers, wearing white and blue protective suits, masks and gloves, were carrying out examinations inside the house. A number of items were removed and placed in a large rubbish skip outside.

Thick green curtains dangled from the opened windows of a first floor bedroom, behind which could be seen a masked and white-suited officer at work.

Detectives were also at the scene, logging and examining items being removed.

The crime scene is yards from Heaton Tennis and Squash Club and close to Heaton Baptist Church.

A local worker, passing the scene yesterday, said: “It is unbelievable what has happened and just terribly sad.”

Officers at the scene would not discuss their investigations.

A police spokesman said: “All we can say is that forensic inquiries are ongoing at the house.

“Inquiries are also continuing into the cause of the boy’s death.”