Police give name to newborn girl found dead in Roch Valley Woods

Police have given a name to a newborn baby found dead in woods in Manchester as they repeat their appeal for information.

Detectives have named the baby girl Pearl, whose naked body was found by a dog walker at around 7.10am on Wednesday 4 April in an area known locally as Bluebell Forest, part of the Roch Valley Woods in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

But a fortnight after the discovery, police have admitted they are struggling to find out who the girl's mother is or how she came to be abandoned in a remote part of the beauty spot, which is popular with dog walkers, families and children.

Leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Hughes of Greater Manchester Police, said very limited information had been passed to the force despite high profile public appeals.

He said they have established that the girl was white but may have some mixed race heritage in her family.

Mr Hughes said they had made the decision to name her Pearl so that she has an identity.

Further tests are being carried out on the body to determine the cause of death.

Detectives are also trying to find out whether the infant - described as "fully developed" - was born alive but died or was stillborn before being abandoned unclothed with no blanket or nappy.

Police have no idea how long the body had been there before being discovered and officers again appealed for witnesses who may have seen something suspicious to come forward.

The area is heavily used but its remote location means there are no CCTV cameras.

Mr Hughes said: "It is important, we feel, that she is given an identity. We also feel that the name we have chosen, which is Pearl, which means precious, has an appropriate meaning.

"Obviously all children are precious and this child who has been found in the woods is no different.

"What is clear though is whatever happened to the baby, however her life came to an end, either inside or outside of the womb, someone has come and abandoned her in the woodland in quite awful circumstances.

"Lack of compassion or regard for the baby is quite concerning."

:: Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4810 or 07387 705768, quoting incident number 368 of 04/04/18, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.