A JUDGE has ordered new care proceedings to take place in the case of a baby boy who was found with serious injuries.
The boy, who is from Nottingham but cannot be identified for legal reasons, was just a few months old when he was taken to hospital late last year.
Medics discovered bruises all over his body, including two skull fractures.
Experts agreed that his injuries were "non-accidental" and Nottingham City Council took action to take the baby and his brothers and sisters into interim care.
An emergency hearing was held at Nottingham's County Court at which the baby's father, mother and a former partner were all said to be in the frame. However, a family judge exonerated both parents and also ruled there was insufficient evidence to implicate her ex-partner.
The council later dropped the care proceedings and the children were returned to their mother, although the mystery of how the baby came by his injuries remains unresolved.
Yesterday the boy's court-appointed guardian took the case to the Court of Appeal.
Lord Justice Ryder, sitting with Lady Justice Gloster and Lord Justice McCombe, re-started the care proceedings and directed a fresh hearing to decide where the children's best interests lie.
However, the court allowed the children to stay with their mother in the meantime.