THE body of a newborn baby was found at a household waste centre in Bradford today.

Emergency services were called to the Household Waste Recycling Centre site on Bowling Back Lane earlier today, where the heartbreaking discovery was made, reports our sister title the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services have today attended Bowling Back Lane in Bradford where sadly a newborn baby has been found to have died. 

"The baby was wrapped in a pink towel which depicted the island of Fuerteventura in yellow on a purple background.

"There were various pictures associated with tropical locations on the towel also including fish, sea horses and a palm tree."

Sara Hollins who is head of midwifery for Bradford, added: “Our main priority is to find the mum of the baby as we are concerned for her wellbeing and want to ensure she gets the appropriate medical care and support. 

“We are urging mum or any friends of mum to call the police on 101 or via 07753 672648 (you can text if you want) quoting log 564.

“Mum is likely to be from the Bradford area.”

If you don’t want to ring or text you can live / instant ‘chat’ remotely on https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101LiveChat which will be live throughout the night.

Or if you don’t want to speak to the police you can contact the Bradford Maternity Assessment Unit on 01274 364531 (open 24 hours a day)

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe added: "This is heartbreaking news. We want to send our condolences and our prayers out to everyone involved.

“Our recycling facility at Bowling Back Lane has been closed until further notice.

"Our main priority now is to support our staff members who were affected by this incident and assist the police with their investigation into this awful event.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police.”

Councillor Hassan Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: “This is very upsetting news. It’s very sad.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the mother.”

He appealed for her to go to hospital so she could receive medical support.

People have taken to Facebook to share their condolences. 

Mo Aslam wrote: “How sad. Hope they both get the right support from agencies.”

Mandy Pearson added: “Hope mummy gets the help she will so badly need.”

Dorothy Dean wrote: “Poor little soul, hope the mother comes forward and gets the help she needs.”

Lindsay Johnson pleaded: “So sad, please come forward and get help and support.”

Pauline Smith added: “Heartbreaking. Rest in Paradise angel.”

Imran Hussain, Labour MP for Bradford East, said: “This is of course a deeply tragic and heart-breaking story that I know will touch everyone across the whole community, and my thoughts tonight are with those staff at the Bowling Back Lane centre and others who found this poor child, as well as with everyone concerned.

"If anyone has any information, please get in touch with West Yorkshire police on the non-emergency 101 number.”

It is not the first time such a heartbreaking discovery has been made in Bradford. 

In 2011, the body of a baby girl was discovered among rubbish at the Associated Waste Management site in Valley Road. 

Then in 2013, staff on one of the picking lines at the same site found the body of a newborn baby boy.