Moves to place baby twins in care

The babies were found in the car park of Heartlands Hospital Enlarge Image

Moves are being made to place newborn twins left in a Birmingham car park with foster parents.

The babies, named Holly and Joseph by nursing staff, were found in a box at Heartlands Hospital about six hours after they were born on Tuesday.

Police have appealed directly to the mother to come forward as she may need medical treatment.

The area director for Birmingham Social Services, Alison Waller, said they are keen to start care proceedings.

Police said they know the mother cared about the twins as she left them at a hospital.

Photographs have been released and officers are searching through medical records and running DNA tests in a bid to trace the mother.

We understand she (the twins' mother) may not wish to be reunited with them. Her wishes are paramount Det Insp Dave Wallbank

A female officer has been assigned to the case in the hope the mother may feel more able to come forward.

The babies were found at about 0930 GMT on Tuesday.

Det Insp Dave Wallbank said they cannot have been left there before 0600 that day as it had been raining and the box they were found in was dry.

He added DNA tests were being run on the box in a bid to find the mother.

"We understand she may not wish to be reunited with them. Her wishes are paramount," he said.

"But the fact they were left at the hospital, to me, shows she cared that they would be found."

Medical staff are worried about the mother's health as an infection was found in the twins' placenta.