Doorstep baby's mother found

The mother asked for forgiveness in her letters

Police have traced the mother of an abandoned baby discovered on the doorstep of a bungalow.

The newborn boy, named Patrick Brian by nurses, was found nine days ago at the house in Sawtry, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

On Monday, police revealed details of letters believed to have been written anonymously by the child's mother.

The woman, who is in her early 20s and lives near Huntingdon, was traced on Monday night and could now be reunited with her son.

A police spokesman said she was undergoing medical checks, but seemed well.

Anonymous letters

Patrick was discovered by retired couple Lance and Beryl Ayres in the early hours of Sunday, 18 March.

The couple were woken by what they thought was an animal in distress, and discovered the baby on their porch.

Last weekend, a bundle of anonymous letters, thought to have been written by Patrick's mother, were delivered to the Ayres' home.

In a letter addressed to Patrick, the mother said she loved him and hoped he would eventually understand why she had abandoned him.

Other letters were addressed to Mr and Mrs Ayres, and Brian Brooker, the paramedic who responded to a 999 call made by Mr Ayres about Patrick.

A fourth letter was headed "to whom it may concern."

In the letters, the woman begged for forgiveness and said she wanted the child to be with a loving family who could give him "more than she ever could".

Prayers

A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire County Council's social services department, which has care of Patrick, said the mother would be reunited with him on Tuesday, if that was what she wanted.

Mr Ayres, 70, said he was delighted by the news that the woman had been traced.

"The police rang us this morning to tell us the good news. We've been praying for the mother constantly.

"I'd love to see them both and give them a hug. That would be the icing on the cake. We're just thrilled."