A NEWBORN baby found dead in Lostock almost six weeks ago was born alive, police have said.


Specialist tests have revealed that the baby girl, who was named Alia, meaning beautiful, by police, was born alive and lived independently of her mother for up to two hours.


Baby Alia’s cause of death is still unascertained and police do not know her ethnicity.


Her body was discovered by dog walkers at around 4.55pm, on Thursday, March 14, in Ox Hey Lane.


She had been wrapped in a white shirt, cotton trousers and an old Tesco’s carrier bag no longer in circulation, which had the words "Please please bury him Islamic way please please".
This was then placed in a JD bag.


It is believed these items may also have been placed in another bag, possibly a black plastic type bag and left at the scene.


The first sighting of a bag where Alia was found was on Sunday, March 10 — Mother’s Day.


Police have now released images of three items recovered along with Alia’s body including the Tesco bag, the JD bag, which is not currently in circulation, and three quarter length, paint-stained, cotton trousers.


Detective Inspector Aaron Duggan, from the Major Incident Team, said: "Despite the passage of time our primary concern still remains the welfare of baby Alia's parents, in particular her mother.


"She was found almost six weeks ago and we still need to make sure both mum and dad are ok both physically and mentally. This will have been a traumatic experience for them particularly if they are young.


"We have made good progress with the investigation and now know that she was born alive and lived independently from her mother for a short period. What we don't know, and what we are trying to establish, is how, where and when she died and when she was placed at Ox Hey Lane and by whom.


"That is why we need to find her parents and it is for this reason I have released images of some of the items recovered with Alia's body.


"I want the public to look at them closely. Does anyone recognise the trousers or the hand writing on the bag?


"I want people to think about someone that perhaps they knew or suspected was, up until recently, pregnant and, coupled with these images, now think they know who the mother or father is and to call us in confidence.


"I want to appeal to the parents directly to come forward, to talk to us and explain what happened to their daughter. I want to reassure them that specialist help is still available if required. I also want to appeal to family members or close friends who may be able to help.


“I will continue to search for the answers needed in order for us to fulfil the wishes of whoever left the note with Alia on Ox Hey Lane and release her body for an Islamic burial. I would like to be able to do this having first spoken to her parents."


Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5448, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.