Appeal For Parents Of Dead Baby Left In Tesco Carrier Bag To Come Forward For Her Funeral

Appeal For Parents Of Dead Baby Left In Tesco Carrier Bag To Come Forward For Her Funeral

The police are urging the parents of a newborn baby found dead in a country lane to come forward before her funeral.

The little girl was left in a lane in Bolton in a Tesco carrier bag. She was found six weeks ago, by a couple walking their dog.

The baby was wrapped in the bag which had a message scrawled on it requesting she was given an Islamic burial.

The Bolton Council of Mosques named the little girl Alia, which is Arabic for beautiful, and have funded and arranged her funeral, which will take place tomorrow (Wednesday).

Both the police and the Council of Mosques are hoping her parents will come forward before she is laid to rest.

A spokesman from the Mosques said they would ensure Alia is given an Islamic funeral.

"On behalf of the Muslim community, BCOM would like to invite all communities to attend the burial prayers at the mosque and to pray for Alia," their representative said.

"It has been requested that this baby be given an Islamic burial and we will be ensuring this is done. BCOM would like to thank everybody who has offered to help towards the cost of the burial but BCOM will pay all costs incurred."

The spokesman added that 'there is help available to Alia's family and the grieving process could be easier for you if you come forward and use the help that is available'.

"You may not get another opportunity and we don't want you to end up regretting this for the rest of your life," he said.

Medics said that the exact cause of Alia's death and her ethnicity were still unclear, but said she had lived independently of her mother for two hours.

The Manchester Evening News reports that police working on the case hope the little girl's parents will come forward and be involved with her final arrangements.

Det Chf Insp Sarah Jackson said: "The parents of the baby may be aware that a name was given to the baby by BCOM but we would be really keen to give the baby a name that means something to the parents, a name that they have chosen for their child."

"We know that this baby was cared for as there was a note requesting an Islamic burial. I am grateful to members of the local community who have offered to cover the funeral costs. I would very much like for the parents to be involved with the preparations for the funeral of their child. If you think you can come forward and talk to us then we will try and get you the help and support that you need."

Alia's funeral will take place at 3pm on Wednesday, May 22 at 3pm at Zakaria Mosque, Derby Street, Bolton.

Close