Baby found by devastated plant workers to be buried with teddy bear made from their uniform

A baby who was found by devastated recycling site workers will be buried alongside a handcrafted teddy bear made from their uniform so that they are "always with her".

The stillborn baby girl was found wrapped in a pink towel at a recycling site on Bowling Back Lane, Bradford on Thursday, August 20.

Despite urgent pleas from the police and medical staff, the mother has yet to come forward.

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The workers who found the child were "devastated" at their tragic discovery and the girlfriend of one of the staff members arranged to have the bear made so that the baby girl - who workers have named Daisy - will not be alone when she is laid to rest.

Staff at the recycling plant on Bowling Back Lane in Bradford with the bear made to be buried with the stillborn baby found at the site. The staff have named the little girl 'Daisy'.Staff at the recycling plant on Bowling Back Lane in Bradford with the bear made to be buried with the stillborn baby found at the site. The staff have named the little girl 'Daisy'.
Staff at the recycling plant on Bowling Back Lane in Bradford with the bear made to be buried with the stillborn baby found at the site. The staff have named the little girl 'Daisy'.

Laura Pratt, 26, from north Leeds, commissioned the bear to bring comfort to her partner Lionel Mairs, 31, from Holmewood, and his colleagues.

She said: "Lionel was really upset and devastated about what happened but this bear has helped him.

"Originally the baby was going to have nothing so it has brought all the team comfort knowing that Daisy will have this bear with her.

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"The bear is orange and wearing the work uniform so it is sort of like they will always be with her and she won't be on her own."

The bear made by Tarah Finlay at 3tothread for the babygirl found at a recycling site in Bradford.The bear made by Tarah Finlay at 3tothread for the babygirl found at a recycling site in Bradford.
The bear made by Tarah Finlay at 3tothread for the babygirl found at a recycling site in Bradford.

The mother-of-four added: "After the post was shared on Facebook, a woman contacted me and said she could make a gown for her to wear.

"We are waiting to hear back about whether that is allowed but kind acts like that have been really helping the whole team deal with what happened."

The bear was created by Tarah Finlay, 29, from Bramley, who owns 3tothread, an independent business that makes memorial items such as bears and blankets.

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Tarah said: "At first I didn't realise it would be for the baby and just thought it could give the workers some comfort after such a tragic experience. I know it was heartbreaking for them.

A bear made by Tarah Finlay for Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas, who tragically lost his wife Gemma in 2017.A bear made by Tarah Finlay for Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas, who tragically lost his wife Gemma in 2017.
A bear made by Tarah Finlay for Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas, who tragically lost his wife Gemma in 2017.

"I do lots of work with parents of stillborn babies and I work with the charity Candlelighters as well so I hear some very tragic stories.

"About 95 per cent of my work deals with the death of young children so I have to try very hard to detach myself.

She added: "The news was so hard to hear being a mum.

"You can't believe a mother would leave her baby but she must have been in so much pain or mentally unwell."

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Tarah, who is mum to 2-year-old Thea and 10-month-old Peighton, was so touched by the story that she asked other people to create items for baby Daisy as well.

The mother-of-two said: "I've spoken to another woman who makes clothes for stillborns so hopefully she will be getting a cardigan and some mittens too.

"It's nice to know that the bear will be when she is laid to rest and she'll have something to cuddle and won't be alone."

Police and partner agencies remain extremely concerned about the mum of the baby and are urging her or any friends or family members to come forward to help the services give her the help and support she may need.

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Sara Hollins, Head of Midwifery at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Police and partner agencies have worked tirelessly for the past week to try and trace mum of the baby.

"We are renewing our appeal today to urge mum or her relatives to come forward and speak to us.

"We are incredibly concerned for the welfare of the mum, as the birth of the baby would have been extremely distressing and there may have been physical complications and we want to ensure that you are OK and get access to the help you may need.

“We are also appealing to the public for any information about anyone you thought may be pregnant, or perhaps may have concealed their pregnancy. I would urge you to come forward with any information, which may prove vital to help us with our enquiries.

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“Please contact the police with any information via 101 or Bradford Maternity Services directly on 01274 672648 364531 or even via text on 07753 672648 quoting log number 564.”

Anyone who does not want to ring or text can instant ‘chat’ to police remotely on www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101LiveChat which will be live throughout the night.

Anyone who does not want to speak to police can contact the Bradford Maternity Assessment Unit on 01274 364531 (open 24 hours a day).