Detectives seek mother of abandoned baby

DETECTIVES yesterday released a picture of a newborn baby found abandoned on a doorstep following an appeal to trace two women.

The baby girl, who has been named Sarah by hospital staff, was discovered outside a house in the Ayrshire coastal town of Irvine on Saturday morning.

She remains in a critical but stable condition at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, where she is receiving specialist lung treatment.

Detective Inspector John Mitchell said the baby’s mother had to be traced for her own safety.

“The priority for the police is still to trace the mother of Sarah to ensure she is well and that she receives the medical attention she is likely to require,” he said.

“It may be that a friend or relative of the mother has knowledge of the birth and may consider it disloyal to contact the police.”

The infant was named Sarah by staff at Ayrshire Central Hospital where, just a day old and weighing 5lb 7oz, she spent Saturday night fighting for her life after being found in Howat Crescent.

Mr Mitchell said he would like to speak to a young woman who was seen in Mill Road around 7.20am. She is described as being around 20 years of age, with dark brown hair and a tanned complexion. A second young woman was seen around 9.30am in Howat Crescent.

She is described as being of slim build, about 5ft, with short, dark, bobbed hair.