DETECTIVES believe a teenage girl may be the mother of a baby found dead at a recycling plant.

Police trying to trace the mother of the newborn girl, whose body was concealed in waste collected from one of 7,000 homes in Worcester, are now using the internet to find the young woman.

It is thought the body, discovered at a large site in Cambridgeshire on Thursday, August 28, was put into a green recycling bin somewhere in the city and passed through a sorting plant in Bromsgrove.

Det Insp Adrian Todd, who is leading the enquiry, 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.

“It may be that they are aware of a girl unusually putting on weight or behaving out-of-the-ordinary in the way she dressed and behaved.

“She may have stopped attending work, college or school, but also managed to conceal that fact from those close to her who might have suspected something was wrong if they had known.

“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. No indication can be too small in an investigation like this, which could end in the mother being so isolated and afraid that she may never come forward voluntarily.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 08457 444 888, quoting 289S/280808. Information can also be given - anonymously and free-of-charge - to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

At the time of the original appeal to the public, Elaine Newell, Head of Midwifery for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, made a personal appeal to the mother to come forward.

She said: “I would like to appeal directly to the mother of this baby - or to anyone who may know the identity or whereabouts of this mother.

“I am very concerned about your well-being and my immediate priority is to ensure that you receive any necessary midwifery and medical care.

“I appreciate that you must be feeling very confused, upset and afraid. Please be assured that I want to make sure you are safe and well.

“If you would like to speak to me directly you can contact me personally on 07775 800300 and I will talk to you and arrange for you to receive any necessary care.”