Lilly plea gets handful of calls

Baby Lilly was found by the River Alne

A television appeal to find the mother of a newborn baby whose body was found in a river six weeks ago resulted in only a "handful" of calls.

Detectives investigating the unlawful killing of Lilly, as she has been called, made an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Wednesday.

Det Ch Insp Adrian Pearson said one of the calls was a possible lead and he was hopeful of more calls coming.

Lilly was discovered in a plastic bag by the River Alne in Warwickshire.

Her body was found in Aston Cantlow, a few miles from Stratford-upon-Avon. She had a fractured skull and collarbone which pathologists said she could not have got through birth.

'Carry forever'

Det Ch Insp Pearson re-iterated his appeals for the mother, or anyone who thought they might know her, to come forward.

"This is not like having a headache one day and then forgetting about it.

"It is something she will carry with her for ever," he said.

Wednesday's appeal included film footage of the scene and an interview with an investigating officer.

Police highlighted a number of blood-stained items of clothing which were found in a plastic Mothercare carrier bag with the baby's body.

They included a pair of navy blue pyjama bottoms with teddy bear motives and a pair of knickers which are black with a burgundy coloured leaf pattern and dark gold frill.

Lilly, named because she was found near water, had a fractured skull and fractured collarbone.