"There are no words": In the snow beside a Salford playing field, a heartbreaking discovery

As they walked through 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 swooped on Ashtons Field in Little Hulton after the woman found the baby's body at about 12.30pm this afternoon (Wednesday, November 20). Officers taped off the field, off Cleggs Lane, while forensic officers began scouring the area for evidence.

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.

READ MORE: What we know so far as baby's remains discovered by a Greater Manchester field

As darkness fell and temperatures dipped below zero this evening, men, women and children came out to pay their respects to the tragic youngster, who has been referred to as 'Baby A' by Greater Manchester Police.

Friends Raymond Irving and Tony Griffiths, from Little Hulton, were among those who braved the wintry conditions. They each lay down a bunch of flowers by the police tape at the entrance to the playing field.

“It’s terrible, shocking,” said Mr Griffiths. “It was the coldest night of the year last night.

“I can’t believe somebody has done this. It’s heartbreaking for the community.

"Little Hulton has a bad name but we’re not bad people. We all stick together and help each other.”

Wrapped in their winter coats, Alisha Sutton and her daughter Tallulah, seven, placed a teddy bear among the growing sea of floral tributes.

“She saw it on the news and wanted to put a teddy down for the baby before bed,” Alisha explained. “I’m absolutely shocked.

"My kids come on here all the time to play. It’s not something you want to see, especially when you have two young kids. The community is very sad and down about it."

Stephen Dickinson said he saw the large police presence earlier this afternoon, and was “shocked” to later hear that a baby's body had been found.

“It’s horrendous," he said. "Any sort of death is sad but if it’s a young child or baby, it’s more devastating. It’s so cold at the moment too.”

Beverley Hayes, who lives in Cleggs Lane, added: “I’m just so sad, there are no words to describe it. You just don’t know what is going through the person’s mind who has done it.

“It’s just a little baby. I hope it’s not had to suffer.

“You wouldn’t expect something like that around here. You don’t think it will happen in your area.”

GMP say they hope to have the results of a Home Office post-mortem examination in the next two days.

At a press conference this evening, Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood told reporters: "We've had nobody come forward trying to give us information as of yet."

He urged anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible.

"We know that this news will devastate our communities," said Chf Supt Blackwood. "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."