Baby found in snow-covered field was 'wrapped in pink fabric', detectives reveal

A baby whose body was found in a snow-covered playing field in Salford was "wrapped in a pink fabric", detectives have revealed.

Police believe the material could hold the key to establishing the identity of the infant, who was found at the entrance to Ashtons Field in Little Hulton on Wednesday (November 20).

A dog walker discovered the body of the 'young baby' - named Baby A by officers - off Cleggs Lane shortly before 12.30pm.

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Earlier on Friday, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) detective made a direct appeal to the baby's mother to contact them. Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Whalley, from the force's Major Incident Team, said officers still don't know the gender, ethnicity or age of the baby.

She said detectives had been working with soil experts, anthropologists and archaeologists to 'try and establish how long the baby had been there'.

In a further update this evening, GMP revealed that the baby was found wrapped in a pink fabric. "We hope to have further information following the Home Office Post Mortem next week," a spokesperson for the force said in a statement.

Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Whalley added: “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 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.

“I would like to thank the community, and members of the public, for their support and compassion. Their tributes, and the information they have come forward with, is invaluable and we are truly grateful for their support.

“We, like you, and the rest of the community want answers. There are so many different elements to this investigation, and in the coming days we will know more about the baby and the circumstances surrounding the death. I want to reassure you that we will provide updates as soon as we can.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on or 101 quoting log 1319 of 20/11/24. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.