'We know their mum is somewhere out there': Police appeal to mother directly after tragic discovery of dead baby in Salford

Police are appealing to the "frightened" mother of a baby found dead in a snow-covered field to contact them. The move comes two days after the remains of the child were discovered in Salford by a woman walking her dog.

So far police have not established how the child died but the outcome of a Home Office post mortem is expected to be revealed early next week. GMP are now describing the child as "a young baby" and are still trying to find out how long the body was at the location.

The discovery was made at 12.30pm on Wednesday in Ashtons Field, off Cleggs Lane in Little Hulton. The baby's sex and ethnicity and the circumstances around their death are all yet to be confirmed.

READ MORE: Police to issue update as investigation into tragic discovery of baby in Salford enters third day

Det Chf Insp, Charlotte Whalley, of Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, said: "This week, we have discovered the remains of a baby near to the layby off Cleggs Lane, Ashtons Field in Little Hulton.

"Our investigation is in the early stages and we do not know the background or circumstances that have led to this baby being separated from the mum. We don’t know the pressures the mum might have been under before she gave birth or in the time afterwards, but our priority is to find answers, and to make sure the mum is safe.

"We know that this baby’s mum is somewhere out there, potentially watching this, and we would appeal for anyone who may know the mum or had their suspicions about her pregnancy to come forward so we can find her and speak to her.

"We will do everything we can to help the mum. Trained officers are ready to support her, no matter what the circumstances are, please contact us."

Earlier this week, Chf Supt Neil Blackwood, GMP's district commander, said: "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 communitie, 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."

The force has thanked the local community for the sea of tributes left to Baby A at the scene. The entrance to the field is close to where Cleggs Lane crosses the M61.