The Mancunian Way: A tragic discovery, a community in mourning

Hello

Yesterday afternoon, in the snow on the edge of a Salford playing field, a dog walker made a heartbreaking discovery. There, just yards from the M61 motorway, lay the remains of a young baby.

Police were called to Ashtons Field in Little Hulton at about 12.30pm. As news of the tragedy spread, so did a profound sadness.

A steady stream of distraught locals have been arriving at the scene to lay teddy bears and flowers in memory of the child named 'Baby A' by police. The identity of the youngster may not be known yet, but the community is still mourning the tragic loss.

Among them was Tony Griffiths, who told James Holt he knows all too well the pain of losing a child. Some 13 years ago he lost his son, aged 19.

"I know what it's like to lose a child," he said as he laid red flowers at the scene. "The mother should come forward.

"She will have family. It's such a tragic case.

"I feel sorry for the mother. It's sad all round - but she could need help and support, and there isn't enough of that.

"Nobody knows yet what happened, but people will finger point. She could've been in a mental health situation and didn't know what to do."

Another woman said she had turned off social media after seeing speculation on a local Facebook group. "The worry is now is that it's someone we know," she said. "But there could be a million reasons behind it."

At the time of writing the baby's identity, sex and ethnicity are yet to be determined. Detectives are also yet to establish how long the baby had been left at the scene.

Speaking last night GMP say they hope to have the results of a Home Office post-mortem examination within two days.

At a press conference, Chief Supt Neil Blackwood appealed for anyone with information to come forward. He said: "The most important thing for us right now is to find answers for this baby and I would urge anyone who has any information at all to get in touch with us. Even the most minor detail could be crucial to our investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote log 1319 of November 20 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Weather etc

Friday: A yellow weather warning for snow and ice remains in place for Greater Manchester on Friday, with temperatures forecast to plummet to -2C overnight.

Roadworks: There are temporary traffic lights due to emergency repairs on Hyde Road in Ardwick in both directions at Bennett Street.

Manchester headlines

Rapist jailed: A rapist plied a vulnerable teenager he’d met on Facebook with alcohol and cocaine before sexually abusing her. Reece Austick was 21 when he raped and sexually abused his 14-year-old victim. She travelled to Manchester alone and visited his flat, where the offences were committed. Read more

Metrolink strike:Andy Burnham has responded to Metrolink staff after they voted to strike this morning, asking to ‘sit down and discuss’. TfGM employees rejected an offer of a £1,290 pay increase earlier today and have voted to walk out in December to demand a ‘rise that reflects the increased cost of living’. The strike would impact ticketing, passenger assistance and information services across the network at one of the busiest times of the year in the lead up to Christmas.

NHS deficit: Greater Manchester's NHS has experienced a 'mini explosion' in costs as it grapples with a £50m overspend in its budget for this year. Collective action by GPs, which means that family doctors are stopping or reducing certain work, and the approval of 'enormously expensive' drugs are causing 'unforeseen' cost pressures, local health bosses have said. More here

Worth a read

How about this for staying cool under pressure? Ten-year-old Jude saved another child from choking on a tomato in his primary school hall in Denton - then went straight back to eating his dinner.

“It all happened so quickly that by the time staff reached them, Jude had already done it,” mum Tara told Greta Simpson. "School described him as cool as cucumber. He said he just sat down again and carried on eating his lunch."