It has been revealed that Constance Marten and Mark Gordon's baby was a girl called Victoria.

The couple appeared before Crawley Magistrates' Court this afternoon charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the remains of a baby were found in an allotment in Brighton on Wednesday.

Marten and Gordon were also charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.

The charge sheet revealed that the baby was a girl called Victoria.

Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and that they were of no fixed abode during a short hearing in front of a packed courtroom.

The pair will appear at the Old Bailey on March 31.

Marten and Gordon were arrested in Stanmer Villas in Brighton on Monday after police attempted to establish their whereabouts over the course of several weeks.

Victoria was found in a plastic bag, covered with nappies inside a locked shed at the allotments near where the couple were arrested, the court heard.

A post-mortem examination was due to be take place today.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, from the Met, previously said officers have been unable to determine the baby’s gender.

The case was referred to the police watchdog by the force, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct said in a statement that it is “currently assessing the referral to determine what, if any, further action is required from us”.

Remanding Marten and Gordon into custody, chairwoman of the bench of magistrates Carol Lintott said: “You are both here today on charges of manslaughter, concealment of the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.

“We are sending the case to the crown court sitting at the Old Bailey.

“We are remanding you in custody until that time.”