A tiny coat left in the snow as Salford community pays tribute to tragic Baby A

A sea of flowers and heartwarming words line the street outside a Salford field where a baby's remains were found. Police are beginning their third day at Ashtons Field, in Little Hulton, after a dog walker discovered the remains of Baby A at around 12.30pm on Wednesday (November 20).

Residents living close to the scene have shared an outpouring of grief since the tragic news was announced. Teddies have been placed for the baby they never knew, with messages of sympathy and support.

Overnight, a tiny blue coat has been left among the tributes, capped with frost after a night in the snow. The number of items left for Baby A has multiplied in the last 24 hours.

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One tribute seen this morning reads: "A little angel gone to soon. Fly high with the other angels." Another says: "R.I.P. Baby A. May you rest in paradise. Love from us all."

A Greater Manchester Police officer placed a sympathy card at the scene on Thursday, while residents told the Manchester Evening News of their shock. One woman, who was in tears as she lay flowers, said: "I only live across the way, I didn’t sleep last night thinking about that poor baby.

"We need justice for that baby, and for the community to have closure… but we don’t know what happened. Whether the mum needs help, or whether it was a child. She is out there somewhere. It’s heart-breaking."

A mum-of-two added: “I can’t wrap my head around it. We know the people who found the baby - it’s awful. I’ve got kids of my own - but you don’t need to be a mum for it to affect you."

The baby's identity and the circumstances around how they came to their death are all yet to be confirmed. A Home Office post mortem is taking place, and police hope this will provide vital clues in the coming days.

A GMP spokesperson said on Thursday night: "Our investigation continues after the remains of a young baby were tragically found in Little Hulton yesterday. The thoughts of everyone at GMP are with Baby A, and we will do everything we can to get answers.

"We would like to thank the community for their tributes to Baby A and their support and compassion at this time. We are truly grateful."

Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood, GMP's district commander for Salford, said on Wednesday: "All of this is extremely sensitive, and this investigation needs to be handled with the utmost care it deserves, and it is going to take time. We know that this news will devastate our communities, and while we do not have all the answers to these questions yet, I want to reassure residents that we will do all we can to find out what has happened here.

"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.

"If you have seen anyone in the area over the past few days, or know who the parents could be, please call us as soon as you can. As soon as we are in a position to confirm further details about the circumstances, we will do so. I encourage people to ring 101 and quote log 1319 or they can do so anonymously on Crimestoppers, which is 0800 555 111."