A forensic investigator from Guatemala who recovers and identifies people murdered during the country's civil war, is studying in Preston to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

Lourdes Penados, 37, is doing a Masters degree in Forensic Anthropology at the University of Central Lancashire to learn how to document and publish reasearch.

Her aim is to be able to defend her findings in a court of law if those responsible for the deaths in her country are brought to trial.

The 1961-1996 Guatemalan Civil War left 150,000 people dead and 50,000 missing. Mrs Penados, who works in the capital, Guatemala City, wants to boost her skills and pass them onto colleagues in the Forensic and Applied Sciences team.

Back home she works digging up graves and helping families find their missing, presumed dead, relatives.

By gaining this qualification she will be able to appear as an expert witness in a law court. She said: "I hope what we are doing can be used as evidence when those responsible for these massacres are brought to trial.

"Only if we perform our work with the highest scientific expertise can we guarantee strong trial evidence and build a water tight case."

She intends to publish her findings so more people will be aware of what happened in Guatemala.

She added: "It can be heart-rending finding graves where children and pregnant mothers are discovered. I want to ensure the truth of this war is not forgotten."