Detectives investigating after the remains of a baby were found in a field have appealed for help to track down the mother and make sure she is safe. The infant, called Baby A by Greater Manchester Police, was found by a dog walker near Ashtons Field in Salford on Wednesday.

At a press conference on Friday, Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Whalley said: “Our investigation is in the early stages and we do not know the background or circumstances that led to this baby being separated from a mum. We don’t know the pressures the mum might have been under before she gave birth or in the times afterwards, but our priority is to find answers and to make sure the mum is safe.

“We know the 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 anything we can to help the mum. Trained officers are ready to support her, no matter what the circumstances are, please contact us.”

Earlier in the week, the force said it was following several lines of inquiry to understand how long the baby was in the field and how they died.