Oulton: Police plea to mum of baby found in Three Horse Shoes pub toilet

Police have told the mum of a baby girl found dead in a pub toilet in Leeds they are "not here to arrest you".

The baby was found at the Three Horse Shoes in Oulton, near Rothwell, just before 17:00 GMT on Sunday.

Det Chief Insp James Entwistle of West Yorkshire Police said it appeared the baby had been stillborn in the cubicle.

Speaking at a press conference he described the investigation as a "safeguarding enquiry, rather than a criminal inquiry".

Appealing directly to the girl's mother, Mr Entwistle said: "From a police perspective I want to be really clear, I'm not here to arrest you or arrest anyone else.

"I'm here to make sure I understand what's happened and make sure you get the medical attention you need.

"I'm appealing to the mother of this baby girl to get in touch with us and get in touch with our NHS colleagues.

"All I want to achieve is making sure that this doesn't happen again to you or to anyone else."

Investigations are continuing into the discovery of the baby's body, police say

Karen Sykes, head of nursing at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) said she was "really concerned" for the mother's "medical, physical and emotional wellbeing".

"We urge you to seek some medical help and advice," she said.

"You can either go to your GP, or if you don't feel comfortable going to your GP, you can go to any of our emergency departments, walk-in centres, or you can call 111."

In an earlier post on social media, a spokesperson for the pub wrote: "All I can say at the minute is, I'm sorry to everyone that was in with us during the time this happened and to all that was due to come in and couldn't.

"A massive thank you to those that helped us while we were struggling as a team.

"It really doesn't go unappreciated."

Pub staff thanked "those that helped us while we were struggling as a team"

Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell, had earlier said his thoughts were with all those involved.

He added: "I would urge people not to jump to conclusions at this stage.

"The priority is finding the mother as quickly as possible and getting her the support she needs."

Flowers were laid on a bench outside the pub

Rothwell Liberal Democrat councillors Conrad Hart-Brooke, Diane Chapman and Stewart Golton said that they shared in the "shock and sadness of this tragic event".

In a joint statement, they said: "Our local community is a strong one and many of us may know people directly or indirectly affected by this sad death.

"Right now, what matters is that the people directly affected get the support they need, especially the mother."

They also called for people to avoid speculating on social media, saying that for those affected "seeing unsubstantiated rumours will not help them or anyone at this time".