NICOLA STURGEON has vowed to help a heartbroken mum who found her baby’s coffin EMPTY after a 42-year quest for the truth.

Lydia Reid, 68, described how she was devastated when the grim discovery was made after her tireless campaign.

5 Lydia Reid has campaigned tirelessly Credit: BBC

5 Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to help Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Now the First Minister has assured the heartbroken mum she'll get the answers that she deserves.

We told you last week how Lydia discovered her son's coffin was buried in 1975 with no body in it.

She was granted a court order for an exhumation at his burial plot in Edinburgh's Saughton Cemetery in August.

But no human remains were found.

The case was raised at First Minister's Questions by Gordon Lindhurst, Conservative MSP for the Lothian region.

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He said: "This revelation comes after 42 years of her seeking to discover what happened to the remains of her child and her leading the campaign which exposed how hospitals had unlawfully kept deceased children's body parts for research purposes.

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5 A hat and other items were found in the coffin Credit: BBC

"Will the First Minister commit to finding the answers to what happened in Lydia Reid's case and can she confirm that everything will be done to discover whether this has happened to other families as well?"

Extending her sympathies to Lydia, Ms Sturgeon said: "It is very difficult for any of us who haven't gone through experiences like this to fully appreciate and understand the distress that Lydia Reid and any others in a similar situation would be experiencing and I can only imagine what that must be.

5 The coffin's nameplate was spelled incorrectly Credit: BBC

"Clearly there has been some work around issues of this nature in the past, but I will give an assurance today that the relevant minister will be happy to meet with Lydia Reid to see what the Scottish Government or our agencies can do to try to ensure that she gets the answers that she certainly deserves and will personally feel she needs in order to allow her to move on from this revelation.

5 The plot in Saughton Cemetery was exhumed Credit: BBC

"I will give that assurance to the member today, and will take steps to ensure that meeting happens as soon as possible."

Last week NHS bosses expressed their condolences with Lydia and her family.

And they confirmed that cops were looking into the case.

NHS Lothian deputy chief executive Jim Crombie said: "Our condolences are with the family of Gary Paton.

“This matter is now being looked into by the police and we are unable to comment further."

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