A CHILLING message left on a Blackpool health visitor's answer machine now appears to have been a hoax.

The message sparked a police investigation to check up on the safety of hundreds of young children and babies in the Marton area.

What appeared to be a distressed woman caller said: "I need to speak to Rebecca, he's killed the baby. It's on the floor. It's not breathing."

The desperate plea for help was left last Friday and picked up by Marton Medical Centre health visitor Rebecca Calvert on Monday.

Police treated the call as genuine and immediately deployed 11 officers to visit the 244 families with youngsters under five years of age in Rebecca's caseload.

Fortunately, the police reached the conclusion yesterday (Wednesday), that no baby has been hurt or injured.

As Det Sgt Paul Buschini explained: "Police have spoken to a local 34-year-old woman in connection with the matter and are satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances.

"Officers are continuing to liaise with the health service and local social services regarding the welfare of the lady involved. There is no baby, and no baby has been injured or threatened through any of this."