Newborn abandoned in London park on coldest night of the year

Police have appealed for the mother of a newborn found abandoned in an east London park on the coldest night of the year to come forward.

The unidentified baby girl was discovered inside a shopping bag by a bench in East Ham park shortly after 10pm on Thursday, the BBC reports.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene, and the newborn was rushed to hospital. Overnight temperatures in the capital have hovered close to freezing in recent days.

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A photo released today showed the infant “hooked up to an intravenous drip and monitoring equipment”, the London Evening Standard reports. She is said to be in a “stable condition”.

“Officers fear her mother could need medical treatment and are appealing for her to seek help and support,” says the Newham Recorder.

Metropolitan Police Inspector Shane Clarke said the authorities were “growing increasingly concerned” for the woman’s welfare.

In a plea directed at her, he said: “I urge you to make contact either with police, your local hospital or GP surgery. It is really important that we know that you are safe.”

Clarke also encouraged any members of the public with information that could help identify the mother and child to come forward.