A 66-year-old woman has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a child in 1978.

Janice Nix was arrested and charged on Tuesday over the death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard, who was assaulted in Thornton Heath, south-east London on 6 June 1978, the Metropolitan police said.

Andrea was taken to a hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead, West Sussex, but died from her injuries on 13 July that year. Nix and Andrea were known to each other, the Met said.

The force launched an investigation into Andrea’s death after the alleged offences were reported in September 2022.

On Tuesday, Nix was charged with manslaughter. The Met said she was also charged with child cruelty in relation to alleged offences towards another child, who was aged eight at the time.

Nix will appear at Uxbridge magistrates court on Wednesday.

The Met police said: “Detectives from the Met’s cold case homicide team have charged a woman following the death of a five-year-old girl in 1978.

“It is reported Andrea was assaulted at an address in Ashley Road, Thornton Heath, on 6 June 1978 and was hospitalised. She was initially treated at hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead.

“Tragically, as a result of the injuries Andrea sustained, she died on 13 July 1978.

“The offences were reported in September 2022 and an investigation was launched.”