Three men arrested on suspicion of desecrating the grave of an 82-year-old woman and stealing her body were released on bail last night.

The trio, who were being questioned in Burton, Staffordshire, were freed pending further inquiries, but have been ordered to return to the police station in two months' time.

The men, one of whom was arrested last year in connection with the offence, were originally detained on Wednesday for questioning about alleged criminal damage.

But Staffordshire Police said the men had been rearrested, without being released from custody, and were being interviewed about the theft of Gladys Hammond's body.

The pensioner's remains were stolen from the grounds of St Peter's Church in Yoxall, Staffs, in October last year.

Her son-in-law co-owns a guinea pig breeding farm in nearby Newchurch which has been the target of a hate campaign by animal-rights activists. The men, two from Wolverhampton and one from Birmingham, were arrested as they travelled in a car.

A 32-year-old man and a woman, aged 30, were released on Wednesday after being detained at a Gloucester house. A man and woman arrested in last year remain on police bail.