Well-known Egremont man Donald Eaton is desperate to get justice for the baby found dead on a Millom tip after being diagnosed with cancer.

The 66-year-old has campaigned for the past 28 years to get justice for the baby boy whose body was dumped on Redhills tip in December 1989.

Nobody has ever been caught and the death of the child – known as the Millom tip baby – and who he was remains a puzzle to be solved.

Just before Christmas, Mr Eaton discovered he had cancer and says he will not rest until justice has been found.

"I'm devastated that I have cancer," he said. "But I shall campaign until my last breath for the baby and will never stop. I want him to have a name before I die."

Each year on the anniversary of the find, Mr Eaton, who is originally from Millom, washes the baby's headstone and lays down toys and flowers, but was unable to last month.

"This December was the first in 28 years that I didn't visit the baby, as I was in hospital," he said.

"But I hope that baby boy will be my guardian angel and pull me through this terrible illness."

Mr Eaton, who lives at Beck Green, has tried many ways to raise the profile of the case.

In the past he has written to Scotland Yard and even the Queen to draw attention.

He contacted the BBC TV programme Crimewatch 10 years ago to see if it would show a reconstruction of events, however this never happened.

And four years ago, he had the appeal printed on a number of tops, which he wears throughout the year, asking for the public's help to solve the case.

The body of the baby boy – aged between a year and 18 months – was found badly burned and with both legs severed.

A Cumbria Police spokeswoman confirmed today that the case was still open and investigations continue.