Bin baby police search websites

The body was found at the waste centre in Peterborough

Police are using social networking websites in a bid to find the mother of a newborn baby girl whose body was discovered at a recycling centre.

They believe the baby, which was found in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, had been left in a Worcester rubbish bin.

Detectives believe the baby's mother may be a teenager who concealed the birth from her friends and family.

Officers have left messages on Myspace, Bebo and Facebook in a bid to find people who may know the mother.

A post-mortem examination on the baby proved inconclusive.

'Mother-in-distress'

Det Insp Adrian Todd, of West Mercia Police, said: "A number of factors are pointing us towards the birth perhaps being concealed by a teenage girl, whose family and friends - and maybe even the father - could be totally oblivious to her plight.

"While we are still keeping an open mind about where this baby came from - and why it was necessary to put her body into the city's waste system - we want to get as many young people as possible thinking about whether they know someone who could be this mother-in-distress."

He said people may have noticed the girl putting on weight, behaving or dressing unusually, stopping attending work, college or school.

He added: "Meanwhile, the mother may be continuing to put herself in danger, both medically and emotionally, if she does not come forward and receive expert help.

"Anyone with even the slightest suspicion should not dismiss any thoughts as being not important."

Anyone with information should contact West Mercia Police or anonymously via Crimestoppers.