Police say they have released on bail the NHS healthcare worker arrested on suspicion of the murder of eight babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.

A statement from Cheshire Police on Friday confirmed the release “pending further enquiries” of the woman, reported to be nurse Lucy Letby, 28.

Police have not identified the person arrested yet but have conducted a search of Ms Letby’s semi-detached home and garden, in addition to interviewing her parents.

Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Show all 17 1 /17 Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house A forensic investigation takes place on a garage roof in Chester, next to the home of Lucy Letby, a healthcare worker who has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of another six after an investigation of the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. SWNS.com Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Lucy Letby has been released on bail Chester Standard/SWNS Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Investigations continue on a garage roof next to the home of Lucy Letby SWNS Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police activity at the house of neonatal nurse Lucy Letby PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police dig up the drive at the house believed to be the home of nurse Lucy Letby PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Forensics continue to investigate at the house SWNS.com Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police activity at a house in Chester, believed to be the home of nurse Lucy Letby, after Cheshire Police announced a female healthcare professional had been arrested in a probe into the deaths of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 4, 2018. The arrest comes as part of a long-running investigation by Cheshire Constabulary following a high number of baby deaths at the hospital's neonatal unit. See PA story POLICE Babies. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire Peter Byrne PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police check the house number PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house A officer inspects a lamp on the side of the house PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police activity at a house in Chester, believed to be the home of nurse Lucy Letby, after Cheshire Police announced a female healthcare professional had been arrested in a probe into the deaths of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 4, 2018. The arrest comes as part of a long-running investigation by Cheshire Constabulary following a high number of baby deaths at the hospital's neonatal unit. See PA story POLICE Babies. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire Peter Byrne PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house A police officer inspects the dug up drive PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house A police officer stands outside the house in Chester Getty Images Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house A police officer leaves leaves the house Getty Images Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Security officers patrol outside the Countess of Chester Hospital Getty Images Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police activity at a house in Chester, believed to be the home of nurse Lucy Letby, after Cheshire Police announced a female healthcare professional had been arrested in a probe into the deaths of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 3, 2018. The arrest comes as part of a long-running investigation by Cheshire Constabulary following a high number of baby deaths at the hospital's neonatal unit. See PA story POLICE Babies. Photo credit should read: Pat Hurst/PA Wire Pat Hurst PA Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house CHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 03: A police tent is seen outside number 41 Westbourne Road in Chester after a healthcare professional working at the Countess of Chester Hospital was arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and attempting to kill six others, on July 3, 2018 in Chester, United Kingdom. A female health care worker at the Countess of Chester Hospital has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies. Cheshire Police having been have been investigating the deaths of 17 newborns at the neonatal unit between March 2015 and July 2016. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) Anthony Devlin Getty Images Chester Hospital baby deaths: police search Lucy Letby's house Police activity at a house in Chester, believed to be the home of nurse Lucy Letby, after Cheshire Police announced a female healthcare professional had been arrested in a probe into the deaths of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 4, 2018. The arrest comes as part of a long-running investigation by Cheshire Constabulary following a high number of baby deaths at the hospital's neonatal unit. See PA story POLICE Babies. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire Peter Byrne PA

The arrest is part of a police investigation into the deaths of 17 babies, and 15 non-fatal collapses, at the hospital between March 2015 and July 2016.

A spokesperson said: “Cheshire Police can confirm that the woman arrested on Tuesday 3 July has now been bailed pending further enquiries.

“We continue to recognise that this investigation has a huge impact on all of the families, staff, and patients at the hospital as well as members of the public."

The investigation is ongoing with no set timescale for completion, they added.

It is understood Ms Letby worked at the Countess of Chester after graduating as a children’s nurse from the University of Chester in 2011, and went on to complete a work placement at Liverpool Women’s Hospital as part of extra training.

The police had previously said the arrest had been a “significant step forward [in] a highly complex and very sensitive investigation”.

(Chester Standard/SWNS)

Multiple internal and independent investigations by the hospital and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have been unable to identify a definitive cause before the case was handed to police.

Acquaintances of Ms Letby have said she was kind-hearted, and some have expressed amazement that her house was now being searched by detectives.