MONTREAL (AFP) - A woman was charged on Wednesday after police discovered six decomposing baby corpses in her storage locker in the western Canadian city of Winnipeg, police said.

Andrea Giesbrecht, 40, was arrested and charged with concealing the bodies of children and breaching probation.

"The contract holder of the storage unit was identified and arrested outside a residence... for her alleged involvement," Winnipeg police said in a statement.

Giesbrecht, who also goes by the name Andrea Naworynski, was "detained in custody," police added.

Authorities initially thought there were four bodies in the storage unit, but said on Wednesday that six rotting bodies were found.

"Autopsies are ongoing," Winnipeg police said, adding that "a lengthy forensic examination and analysis" had begun, though results could take several months.

It was not clear how the babies died, or how old they were.

Police said on Tuesday that they were "speaking with a number of individuals" in connection with the gruesome discovery.

Local media said an employee at the storage facility detected the bodies on Monday afternoon, after tracing a foul smell emanating from the tiny corpses.