Portsmouth baby death: Flowers and soft toys mark a week since newborn baby girl was found dead

The infant, who was born at 39 weeks, was found at the junction of Old Commercial Road and Victoria Street last Saturday at 6.18am.

Detectives are still desperately appealing to the public in a hope of tracking down the baby’s mother as concerns for her welfare deepen.

To mark the week anniversary bouquets of flowers, teddies and stuffed toys including a pink llama, a blue bunny and a pug have been put next to the cobbled road with messages that show how the tragedy has rippled through the city.

One reads: ‘Sleep tight princess girl. Lots of love and shine bright.’

Another adds: ‘Rest in peace sweet baby.’

Yesterday police revealed a yellow Primark towel was found in Victoria Street, Buckland, just feet away from where the baby was discovered by a resident.

Officers believe it had been used to wrap up the baby before being discarded in a black T-shirt on a path behind block 5-19 Victoria Street.

Inspector Louise Tester said: ‘As we are sure many of you will understand, this is a very complex and delicate investigation, with many different lines of enquiry to follow.

SEE ALSO: Portsmouth baby death: Police believe infant who died in city was not born in hospital

‘We know that many of you have been deeply saddened by this and there is a lot of speculation.

‘Please be reassured that we have a dedicated team working incredibly hard to find out what has happened.

‘We are hoping that by releasing this image of the towel it will help to jog someone’s memory.’

The beach-style towel, which is no longer sold by Primark, has two orange stripes along one end and one across the other.

A post-mortem has proven inconclusive.

As previously reported, the infant was white. Police believe she was not born in a hospital and the mother’s afterbirth was not found with the girl.

Liz Rix, chief nurse at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, urged for the mother to seek urgent medical help.

She said: ‘If you have given birth without medical attention you may be in pain, you may be suffering from bleeding or an infection which could be potentially life-threatening if left untreated.’

Anyone with information can call 101, quoting Operation Cravat or the reference number 44200030626.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or send information to mipp.police.uk/operation/44HC20E02-PO1