New home for abandoned baby

Police have appealed to the baby's mother to contact them

A newborn baby who was found abandoned outside a Glasgow chip shop has been taken into foster care.

The infant, who was named Matthew by nurses, was discovered outside Mario's fast-food outlet in the Cardonald area of the city last week.

Two teenagers found the baby wrapped in a red fleece and towel.

The decision to transfer Matthew to foster care was taken after the child's mother failed to respond to appeals by Strathclyde Police.

Sean Coll, 19, nudged what he thought was a squeaky toy after spotting a bundle outside the shop where his friend David Taggart, also 19, works.

The baby boy, weighing 4lbs 1oz, was taken to the maternity unit at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and was found to be well.

Mother appeal

He went to his new home from the hospital's Special Care Baby Unit on Monday afternoon.

A spokesman for the Southern General Hospital said: "The staff were absolutely overwhelmed by the number of messages of support, cards and Christmas cards and gifts, not just from across Scotland but from across the UK and beyond, that arrived for baby Matthew during his short stay with us.

"We still hope that the baby would be reunited with his mum and we still remain concerned that she may require medical attention.

"No matter what the problem was that led her to take this action, we assure her that help is available."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said that the baby's mother had not been traced and the inquiry was ongoing.