Teddies, candles and prayers for newborn baby boy who died after being dumped in churchyard in a Tesco ‘bag for life’
Prayers were led by Reverend Paul Crabb who discovered the baby boy outside his church in West Yorkshire
HEARTFELT prayers and tributes have been paid to a newborn baby who died after being abandoned naked in a Tesco 'Bag for Life' outside a church vicarage.
Reverend Paul Crabb, who found the baby boy on his doorstep in Bramley, West Yorkshire, led the prayers for the newborn and his unknown mother.
The carrier bag was found on Wednesday morning and Rev Crabb described the baby as "cold to touch" and despite paramedic's efforts, the boy died later that morning.
He told the 50-strong congregation: "We're here to be together, to share our sadness and to express out love for a little boy we never knew, yet whose death has changed our lives.
"We gather to hold in our hearts his mother, hoping and praying that she will find the help that she needs."
Floral tributes and teddies have been left outside the church.
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After leading the prayers, Rev Crabb asked those gathered to keep the baby boy and his mother in their thoughts.
Some of those who attended the outdoor ceremony yesterday spoke of their sadness.
Lisa Longbottom said: "I hope they find the mum.
"I really do feel for her at the moment. Having given birth three times myself, I know it is traumatic at the best of times so for her now to be on her own and the state she must be in, it's heartbreaking."
David Kennedy, who has lived in the area all his life, added: "I just hope they find his mum safe and well - that's the main concern now. It's tragic."
Police said the placenta was also contained in the bag and they have not ruled out the possibility that it may have been someone other than the mother who left it.
The police were first informed about the baby at around 9.18am.
The tot was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, West Yorkshire, by ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Cops said they were "extremely concerned" for the welfare of the baby's mother and have urged anyone with any information to contact them as soon as possible.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "At 9.18am today, police received a report of a newborn baby having been found outside the vicarage of St Peter's Church, in Hough Lane, Bramley.
"The male child was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.
"Enquiries are ongoing to identify the child and his mother and officers are keen to hear from anyone with any information that could assist the investigation.
"Officers are extremely concerned for the mother's welfare and the fact that she may need urgent medical attention given the potential circumstances surrounding the baby's birth.”
It comes after it was a revealed a mother dumped her newborn on a freezing doorstep in a Tesco carrier bag just moments after giving birth.
The woman, who was not named, left the child in a carrier bag on the doorstep of a house in Flaxman Road, Camberwel; in February 2009, a court heard last week.
The baby girl was lucky to survive after being found suffering from hypothermia.
And last month hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral of a baby girl found dumped on a rural alleyway in Oxfordshire.
Anyone with information about the latest incident, or members of the public who may have seen anyone in the vicinity of the vicarage overnight, is asked to contact police via 101, quoting log number 354 of November 23.
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