Baby Joe reunited with mother

CCTV footage showed Joe's mother leaving him at the hospital

A baby boy abandoned at a West Bromwich hospital has been reunited with his mother as officials investigate reports his parents are asylum seekers.

The youngster remained in social services care as the local authority and immigration officers worked with the family to uncover the circumstances surrounding the baby's abandonment.

The child, thought to be about 18-months-old and named Joe by maternity ward staff, was left by a couple at Sandwell District General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Joe's mother returned to the hospital two days later and was recognised by staff from CCTV footage.

No charges

Councillor Darren Cooper, from Sandwell Council, said officials were now working to uncover the background to the case.

He said that if it was confirmed that Joe's family were asylum seekers it would not be the first time a child had been abandoned under such circumstances.

"There have been other instances around the country and I would say this, for a child to be left in a maternity hospital by their parent, that parent must have been under some form of distress."

Joe remains in the care of the social services

Mr Cooper said Joe would stay with foster carers while social services officers worked with police and immigration officers to establish where the couple came from.

It is thought they are asylum seekers from China, but the authority was unable to confirm this.

Mr Cooper said: "We are very pleased that mum has come forward.

"We are working with mum, the police and immigration to establish the full facts of the case and the status of the family."

West Midlands Police said the child's mother returned to the hospital on Thursday afternoon with another woman.

Detective Inspector Carl Southwick said: "We are happy that we have been able to achieve our prime goal of reuniting mother and child, who are now in the care of social services.

"The child's mother has been spoken to by officers and we can confirm that the matter is at an end as far as police are concerned with no criminal offences being disclosed."