THE body of a newborn baby girl has been found in a wheelie bin on a housing estate - sparking an urgent appeal to find the mother.

The tragic discovery was made at 2.40pm yesterday afternoon in a green waste bin, in a communal waste collection area serving a block of six flats in Whitcliffe Grange in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Last night the estate was being combed by police as they searched for the mother by torch-light while forensic teams examined the wheelie bins, wrapping one up and taking it away in a police van.

An area of the estate where the baby girl was found was cordoned off and residents were told not to leave their properties unless absolutely necessary.

Several walkways leading towards a children's play park and the main A6108 Reeth Road into Richmond cut past the communal bin area where the body was found.

Speaking at the scene yesterday, Inspector Mark Gee from North Yorkshire Police, said: “At 2.40pm today (Monday, December 1) a resident of Whitcliffe Grange going out to his recycling bin found what he thought to be the body of a baby.

“Paramedics and police attended immediately and hospital staff tried to revive her but unfortunately the baby was pronounced dead.

“She is believed to be a newborn baby girl and our enquiries are continuing, but predominately at the moment we want to trace the mother.

“I would like to make a personal and urgent appeal for her to come forward so she can get necessary medical treatment and professional support.”

Residents, who described the estate in the town's outskirts as a close knit, were shocked by the news.

Two young mothers, who asked not to be named, said they saw the police vans arrive.

One said: “I never dreamt it could have been anything like this – it’s heartbreaking.

“It has really upset us because we are both mums. The mother of the baby really should come forward for her own sake.”

Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons said news of the discovery was “terrible.”

“This is absolutely tragic, how awful. I would just like to add my appeals to find the mother and help her however possible,” he said.

“I am amazed - you just do not expect anything like this to happen in Richmond.”

Anyone who has any information that could help to identify the mother or to help the enquiry should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Select option 1, and pass information to the force control room, quoting incident number NYP-01122014-0234.