Missing baby found safe and well

Police launched a huge hunt after the abduction

A two-day old baby who went missing from the foot of her mother's bed in a West Midlands hospital has been found.

Police say the girl is "safe and well" and her parents are "overjoyed".

Two women and a man have been arrested.

West Midlands Police said they attended a house in the Dudley area - about five miles from the hospital - following a phone call from a member of the public at 2015 BST on Monday.

They discovered a baby and the three people, who are related to each other, were arrested.

Supt Rowell thanked the public and media

The girl's parents have identified the child as theirs.

Superintendent Steven Rowell, of West Midlands Police, said the mother and father had been "remarkably calm" throughout their ordeal and were "overjoyed to be reunited with their little girl".

He added: "It is probably every parents' nightmare that occurred to these people, just as they were about to leave the hospital.

"What they must have gone through must have been awful."

He said the baby was "found in good health and had been well cared for" though she was being thoroughly checked by paediatricians.

A major police hunt was launched after staff on maternity ward F4 at the Wordsley Hospital in Stourbridge reported the girl missing at 1340 BST.

Investigation

The abduction was discovered when the 32-year-old mother was woken to look at her daughters.

A new electronic security tagging system was due to be implemented at the hospital in the next few days.

Mr Rowell said the hospital had launched an investigation into how the abduction had happened.

He added: "I would like to thank members of the public and the media for their help and I am grateful for their assistance in this matter."

The three people arrested are being questioned at an undisclosed police station.