Detectives investigating the death of a baby whose body was found amongst rubbish at a recycling plant have appealed for help in tracing its "vulnerable" mother.
The infant, thought to be a six-month boy, was spotted on the picking station at the Bell Waste Control site in North Lincolnshire yesterday.
Humberside Police are attempting to establish the identity of the baby's mother, who they believe is vulnerable and in need of medical treatment, and have asked for the public to come forward information.
A post mortem examination is expected to take place later today with hopes it will provide more clues as to how the youngster died.
The infant's body was found by a traumatised worker who was sorting waste at the plant. He originally mistook it for a doll or cuddly toy, but on realising it was a child dropped it instantly.
Recycling plant manager Steve Kent said the body probably came in with a dump of commercial rubbish.
He told ITV news all the machines were stopped and the police were called following the find.
Referring to the employee who made the grim discovery, he said: "He was quite distressed and he immediately dropped it. We stopped the plant and went through the process with the police.
"He originally thought it was a doll or a cuddly toy or something like that. He's just picked it up and it was revealed what it was."
Mr Kent said the worker, who had been stationed on a section picking off cardboard, wood, paper, metal and other objects for recycling, spent most of the day with the police before being been sent home.
He branded it "disgusting" that something like this could happen, describing the mood at the plant as "sombre".
The baby would probably have come in with a load of commercial waste, which is collected from factories and offices, he said, adding: "How somebody can discard a baby in that manner is just ridiculous, it's disgusting."
The waste would have come into the plant in the last two or three days and could have come from a large area, including the towns of Doncaster, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, the manager said.
A Humberside Police spokesman said: "Very little is known in terms of the circumstances which led to the baby seemingly being discarded but we are concerned that the baby's parents, in particular his mother, may need help and support following the loss of her child and as such she may be very vulnerable at this time.
"We are urging anyone who can help identify the parents of this baby or the parents themselves to come forward in order for us to make sure they get any support or medical treatment that may be required."
Detective Sergeant Karen Philpott said the recycling site had been secured and numerous officers were working on the investigation.
She added: "I would urge anybody out there, any members of her family, who know her identity to contact us at the family protection team."
There was a police presence at the site yesterday with a number of police vehicles and officers visible on the premises. Blue police tape could be seen stretched across the largest of the buildings.
Nessa Thompson, managing director of the neighbouring Thompson Recycling Group, also on Winterton Road, told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "For the people who found it, it is terrible.
"We are very close knit and we heard what had happened through the drivers.
"It is absolutely appalling. I cannot think of anything worse."